Potassium level in acute coronary syndrome: remembering the best balance

Abstract

Introduction: potassium is among the cations highly categorized as essential in human life. In the cardiovascular system, the changes in this electrolyte have the ability to influence and modify the electrophysiological properties of the myocardial cells and influence the generation and conduction of heart impulses. For this reason, the different alterations in the levels of this electrolyte will have a direct impact on the prognosis and mortality of patients with acute myocardial infarction. Therefore, potassium homeostasis is essential to prevent adverse events in patients with cardiovascular disease. Objective: to present an updated overview of the published literature regarding the importance of the ideal balance in potassium levels in patients with acute coronary syndrome. Method: an integrative review of the literature was carried out in the PubMed database with the following terms: potassium and acute coronary syndrome, potassium and physiology; MeSH terms: potassium AND myocardial infarction; potassium AND arrhythmias, cardiac/mortality. Conclusions: given the influence of dyskalemia on triggering severe arrhythmias, strict monitoring of fluctuations in this ion should not be overlooked in patients with AMI, in whom the optimal range should be between 3.5 and 4.5 mEq/L.