Causes

• impaired renal function
• drug treatment (e.g. iv infusion, ACE inhibitors, potassium-sparing diuretics, NSAIDs, trimethoprim)
• redistribution of potassium (e.g. acidosis, mineralocorticoid deficiency)  ^d

Impaired renal function, drug treatment and potassium redistribution are the commonest causes of hyperkalaemia.

Causes of hyperkalaemia	% (95% CI)
impaired renal function d	43% (38% to 47%)
drug treatment	37% (33% to 42%)
redistribution of potassium	15% (12% to 19%)
unknown	4.7% (2.6% to 6.7%)