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. 1986 Feb;33(2):256-8.

The difficult diagnosis of hypokalemia

F Ballantyne 3rd, C Vander Ark
  • PMID: 3946132

The difficult diagnosis of hypokalemia

F Ballantyne 3rd et al. Am Fam Physician. 1986 Feb.

Abstract

The electrocardiographic diagnosis of uncomplicated hypokalemia rests on ST segment depression, a decrease in T-wave amplitude, prominent U waves and a U-wave to T-wave ratio of greater than 1. The diagnosis is more difficult in a patient receiving digitalis, but the upsloping ST segment of digitalis can be distinguished from that of hypokalemia. The changes of hypokalemia are most apparent in leads V2 and V3.

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