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Beta-adrenergic activity is one of several mechanisms regulating the movement of potassium from the extracellular to the intracellular environment. In patients with renal failure, these mechanisms are important in the body's defense against hyperkalemia.
These investigators studied the effect of the nebulized beta-adrenergic agonist albuterol on plasma potassium in 10 patients on maintenance hemodialysis. On three different occasions, each patient received either 20 mg of albuterol, 10 mg of albuterol, or placebo (saline) just before a scheduled maintenance hemodialysis session. The mean pretreatment plasma potassium level was 5.8 mmol/L. After the 10 and 20 mg doses of inhaled albuterol, the mean maximal decreases in plasma potassium levels…