Answer to Q7

Answer: From the electrolyte standpoint - this is a patient with hypokalemia and low urinary potassium.

Choice (a) Renal tubular acidosis

(a)- False - RTA (types 1 & 2) have hypokalemia but that is because they are losing it in their urine thus urine K should be elevated.

Choice (b) Steroid excess

(b)- False - Urine loss is the etiology  therefore again urine potassium should be high.

Choice (c) Hypokalemic periodic paralysis

(c)- True - potassium enters the cells thus the kidney tries to conserve it and urine potassium is low.

Choice (d) GI- villous adenoma

(d)- True - since the potassium is lost in the stool, it is low in the blood. The kidney tries to conserve it thus urine potassium is low but if one measured the total stool potassium, it would show that there is increased loss in stool.

Choice (e) Inadequate intake

(e)- True - potassium losses are directly related to intake. Low intake would lead to decreased potassium in the urine.