Hypokalaemia in alcoholics.

Hyponatraemia has been described in beer drinkers and hypokalaemia resulting from increased levels of aldosterone is well recognised in patients with cirrhosis and ascites. We have encountered episodes of hypokalaemia in alcoholics accompanied by normal or increased serum concentrations of sodium. Despite a resemblance to syndromes of mineralocorticoid excess, increased levels of aldosterone and other mineralocorticoids were not found.