Abstract

CAICEDO, Marcelo Aguirre; MEDINA ROSAS, Jorge E; CHACON, José A  and  RESTREPO VALENCIA, César A. Use of ace inhibitors or ARA II plus spironolactone and their relationship with hyperkalemia in day care patients. Acta Med Colomb [online]. 2007, vol.32, n.4, pp.212-218. ISSN 0120-2448.

Objective: to establish the relationship between the pharmacologic combination of an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocking agent Type II (ARA II) plus spironolactone and the serum potassium levels in adult patients with heart failure, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) higher or equal to 60 mL/min, who go for consultation in the cardiology unit of hospital centers in the city of Manizales. Design: prospective, observational study of incident cases. Material and methods: 30 patients with diagnosis of heart failure were included. They were given the pharmacologic combination of ACE inhibitors or ARA II plus spironolactone, with a creatinine clearance of more or equal to 60 mL/min. They were followed for 6 months, monthly assessments of the electrolytes as well as renal function. The statistical analysis for the quantitative variables was carried out with the Chi square test; for the quantitative variables the Student t was used. The EpiInfo program Version 6.04 and Epidate 3.1 were used. Results: 368 patients with diagnosis of heart failure were found, 126 of them lived in Manizalez, of which 54 had creatinine clearance of less of equal to 59 mL/min, 20 patients were subject to change the basic medication, 7 patients did not attend to any control appointment, 13 refused to collaborate in the study, 2 could not be located, so 30 patients remained to begin the study, 76.7% (23) were men, average age of those participating in the trial was 67, ranking between 33and 89 (SD 12.6). 66% of the patients (20) had previous history of myocardial infarction (none of them with diabetes mellitus), the average time of heart failure evolution was 6.6l, with a range between 1 and 15 (SD of 4.073). None of the patients reached a creatinine clearance of less or equal to 59 mL/min. El 23.3% of patients had hyperkalemia (n=7) during the follow-up, 5 of them were men, and the great majority older than 65, 57.1% (4 patients) When the etiology of the heart failure was analyzed it was found that 71.4% (5 patients) had a history of isquemic cardiopathy. Two patients had diarrhea and one patient had an acute urinary obstruction that induced the hypercalemia episode. The other patients did not have any evidence of any trigger. Conclusion: the data obtained from this study show that there might be an association between the use of ACE inhibitors or ARA II plus spironolactone with the development of hyperkalemia in patients with heart failure and creatinine clearance higher or equal to 60 mL/min, being even more important in those with history of isquemic cardiopathy and NHYA III or IV functional class, so these patients should be subject of strict medical and laboratory control.

Keywords : angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors; type II angiotensin receptor blockers; spironolactone; hyperkalemia; heart failure.

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