Pseudohyperkalemia: Look before you treat

Abstract

Pseudohyperkalemia is defined as a reported rise in serum potassium concentration along with a normal effective plasma potassium concentration. We present a case report of a 57-year-old gentleman with a history of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, who presented with an elevation in serum potassium along with a normal plasma potassium concentration. Through an exploration of the literature, we demonstrate that pseudohyperkalemia is an important phenomenon to watch for as it may sometimes lead to unnecessary and potentially dangerous treatment.