Pseudo-myocardial infarction in diabetic ketoacidosis with hyperkalemia

Abstract

Hyperkalemia-induced electrocardiogram changes such as dysrhythmias and altered T wave morphology are well described in the medical literature. Pseudo-infarction hyperkalemia-induced changes are less well known, but present a unique danger for the clinician treating these critically ill patients. This article describes a case of pseudo anteroseptal myocardial infarction in a type 1 diabetic with hyperkalemia. The most common patterns of pseudo-infarct and their associated potassium concentrations are then summarized from a literature review of 24 cases.