Hypokalemia

A serum potassium concentration below the normal reference range (3.5-5.2 mmol/L), potentially leading to neuromuscular, gastrointestinal, and cardiac conduction abnormalities. Possible causes are fluid loss (vomiting, diarrhea, laxatives, excessive sweating), medications (diuretics, insulin, some antibiotics, long-term corticosteroids), kidney failure, Cushing syndrome, primary aldosteronism, hypomagnesemia, eating disorders (bulimia, severe starvation), and genetic disorders (hypokalemic periodic paralysis or Bartter syndrome).