Clinical Manifestations

A change in K+ plasma concentration can cause a variety of clinical effects including cardiac, neuromuscular, and metabolic effects.

As hyperkalemia decreases the transmembrane K+ gradient, there are consequent effects to the cell membrane depolarization, slowing of ventricular conduction, and a decrease of the AP duration.

These changes result in cardiac arrhythmia which manifest in ECG findings as peaked T waves (result of resting membrane potential changes which lead to early excitatory reaction), widening of the QRS complex, loss of the P wave, and eventually ventricular fibrillation, which ultimately leads to asystole.