PSYCHIATRIC DISTURBANCE LEADING TO POTASSIUM DEPLETION, SODIUM DEPLETION, RAISED PLASMA-RENIN CONCENTRATION, AND SECONDARY HYPERALDOSTERONISM

Abstract Nine psychiatrically disturbed women were studied, variously suffering from the effects of anorexia nervosa, vomiting, and abuse of diuretics and purgatives. Each had more than one source of electrolyte depletion, and each deliberately concealed at least one of these. All were potassium-depleted, and in all but one sodium depletion was also evident. During exacerbations plasma-renin concentration was raised, secretion-rate and plasma concentration of aldosterone were increased, and the metabolic clearance of aldosterone was diminished. It is suggested that in combined sodium and potassium deficiency, conservation of sodium may be relatively more effective than that of potassium, an…