Long-term hypokalemia in acute myeloid leukemia.

A 48-year-old man suffering from acute myeloid leukemia presented a hypokalemia that persisted almost constantly during 18 months despite total hematological remission. The renal investigation demonstrated a hypokalemic nephropathy with an impairment of urinary concentrating function. Light and electron microscopy showed renal lesions related to potassium depletion. We did not observe specific lesions explaining the renal potassium wasting. Metabolic studies showed persistent hyperkaluresis, which appeared to be the main kaliopenic factor. We also found hypomagnesemia and changes of the renin-aldosterone system. We observed a hyperreninism, probably due to hypokalemia and a slight hyperaldosteronism, which could have been one of the kaluretic agents.