[Consequence of habitual use of laxatives (author's transl)].

Though habitual, but not excessive use of laxatives can be observed frequently, no accompanying clinical symptoms have yet been described. The frequent observation of tetany and edema is striking, there is a marked decrease of potassium clearance and an incipient impairment of creatinine clearance. A secondary hyperaldosteronism can be ruled out. The electrocardiograms of 9 patients show signs of mild hypokalemia, which in 2 patients were first misinterpreted as myocardial ischemia and in one patient taken as indication of myocarditis. Oral administration of potassium normalizes the electrocardiograms.