Severe hyperkalaemia due to the concomitant use of salt substitutes and ACE inhibitors in hypertension: a potentially life threatening interaction

Abstract

We report two cases of hyperkalaemia related to the use of the salt substitute ‘Lo Salt’ in hypertensive patients on treatment with ACE inhibitors. In each case serum potassium returned to the normal range after cessation of the salt substitute. Without vigilance the contribution of the salt substitute to hyperkalaemia would have been overlooked and an ACE inhibitor erroneously withdrawn.