Potassium Deficiency Diseases

Potassium is an electrolyte, or a mineral, within the body that has an electrical charge. It is very important because the heart and nervous system must have potassium to function. Potassium helps build muscles and proteins, and helps with the metabolism of carbohydrates. Having a deficiency can lead to several disorders, but a potassium deficiency can be the result of several diseases.

Bartter's Syndrome

Bartter's syndrome is a disease caused by a mutation within specific proteins that function in the tubules of the kidneys. Urine is created in the tubules, or little tubes, and these proteins are responsible for carrying chlorine, sodium and potassium, as explained by David Salant, M.D., Chief of the Section of Nephrology at Boston Medical Center in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine." Infants and young children with this disease will want to drink an abnormal amount of fluids and excessively urinate. They will also have hypokalemia, or very low levels of potassium in their bloodstream.

Gitelman's Syndrome

This potassium deficiency disease is very similar to Bartter's syndrome. Dr. Salant writes in "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine" that it is also due to a mutation in the kidney tubules, but the defect takes place in a different area. It initially affects the transport of sodium and chlorine, but it leads to the loss of a great amount of fluid. When the kidneys try to correct the fluid loss, they hold onto sodium and lose too much potassium. This disease is more common than Bartter's and is usually seen in older children. The symptoms include weakness, fatigue, muscle cramps and spasms in the hands and feet.

Conn's Syndrome

An adenoma in the outer section of the adrenal gland causes Conn's syndrome. Adenoma is the medical term for a benign tumor which is made of glands or structures that look like a gland. The tumor secretes aldosterone without abiding by any regulations or controls. Aldosterone is a hormone that stimulates the kidneys to hold onto sodium and excrete potassium, explains Ashley Grossman, M.D., Professor of Neuroendocrinology at the London School of Medicine in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." People with this disorder may be weak, have high blood pressure and need to urinate excessively.

Renal Tubular Acidosis

The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases is conducting research into this disorder. In renal tubular acidosis, the kidneys do not secrete acid into the kidney tubules like they should, and as a result, too much acid stays in the bloodstream. There are three basic forms of this disease. In types I and II, people have a low amount of potassium in their bloodstreams. Children with type I may have stunted growth, and adults may develop bone and kidney disease. The defect of type II is in a different area than type I, but the symptoms can be similar.

Hypokalemia

Hypokalemia is the medical term for ultra low potassium levels. This may cause fatigue, cramps, muscle weakness, decreased reflexes, and destruction of skeletal muscle. If the low potassium levels continue, patients can develop low blood pressure, respiratory failure and even paralysis, as explained by James Lewis, III, M.D. of Nephrology Associates in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." People can develop hypokalemia from having diarrhea for a long period of time, severe vomiting, and the abuse of laxatives or diuretics.