A Case Series of Pseudohyperkalemia: A Diagnostic Dilemma in Cancer Patients With Reactive Thrombocytosis

TL;DR

This paper discusses three cases where cancer patients appeared to have high potassium levels, but it was actually a false reading due to another condition, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis.

Contribution

The novelty lies in presenting real-world cases linking pseudohyperkalemia to reactive thrombocytosis in cancer patients.

Findings

Three cancer patients exhibited pseudohyperkalemia due to reactive thrombocytosis.

Misdiagnosis could lead to unnecessary treatment and complications like hypokalemia.

Physicians should consider pseudohyperkalemia in cancer patients with elevated potassium readings.

Abstract

Hyperkalemia is a life-threatening condition if not treated urgently. However, certain conditions can cause pseudohyperkalemia and the treating physician must be able to distinguish between the two to prevent complications of overtreatment that can lead to hypokalemia, itself a life-threatening condition. One of the causes of pseudohyperkalemia is thrombocytosis. Here we present three cases of pseudohyperkalemia secondary to reactive thrombocytosis in cancer (solid malignancy) patients. This case series emphasizes the importance of recognizing pseudohyperkalemia from a physician’s perspective to avoid inadvertent treatment.