Giant negative U waves in a patient with uncontrolled hypertension and severe hypokalemia

J Electrocardiol. 1992 Apr;25(2):163-6. doi: 10.1016/0022-0736(92)90121-f.

Abstract

A 66-year-old woman with a long history of hypertension had an electrocardiogram with giant negative U waves in left precordial leads despite hypokalemia. This seems to be the first report of giant negative U waves induced by uncontrolled hypertension with hypokalemia. The occurrence of negative U waves in the presence of profound hypokalemia is an important observation because it masks the electrocardiographic manifestation of hypokalemia.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Chronic Disease
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Electrocardiography*
  • Female
  • Fluid Therapy
  • Gastritis / complications
  • Gastritis / drug therapy
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / adverse effects
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid / analogs & derivatives
  • Glycyrrhiza
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / diagnosis*
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypokalemia / chemically induced
  • Hypokalemia / diagnosis*
  • Hypokalemia / therapy
  • Nicardipine / therapeutic use
  • Plant Extracts / adverse effects
  • Plants, Medicinal
  • Silicic Acid / adverse effects
  • Spironolactone / administration & dosage
  • Valsalva Maneuver

Substances

  • Plant Extracts
  • licorice extract - magnesium aluminometasilicate
  • Silicic Acid
  • Spironolactone
  • Nicardipine
  • Glycyrrhetinic Acid