Colonic necrosis due to sodium polystyrene sulfate (Kayexalate)

Am J Emerg Med. 2009 Jul;27(6):753.e1-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2008.10.002.

Abstract

The rising prevalence of chronic and end-stage kidney disease is accompanied by a concomitant rising risk of hyperkalemia in these patients. Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate, sanofi-aventis, Bridgemater, NJ) is a commonly used treatment of hyperkalemia. We present a case of Kayexalate-induced colonic necrosis as a reminder of this rare, but potentially avoidable, toxicity of a commonly used medication.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cation Exchange Resins / adverse effects*
  • Colon / diagnostic imaging
  • Colon / pathology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hyperkalemia / drug therapy*
  • Hyperkalemia / etiology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / complications
  • Middle Aged
  • Necrosis
  • Polystyrenes / adverse effects*
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Cation Exchange Resins
  • Polystyrenes
  • polystyrene sulfonic acid