THE EFFECT IN HUMANS OF EXTRACELLULAR pH CHANGE ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SERUM POTASSIUM CONCENTRATION AND INTRACELLULAR POTASSIUM 1

For many years investigators have been aware of the association of hyperkalemia with acidosis and hypokalemia with alkalosis. The early in vitro work of Fenn and Cobb (1) suggested that there might be a cause and effect relationship. However, it was not until recently that satisfac- tory in vivo data were obtained (2-7) which per- mitted the formulation of the hypothesis that changes in extracellular pH altered the extracel- lular potassium concentration independently of changes in total body potassium 3 (7). Thus, in animals, acidosis increases and alkalosis decreases the serum potassium concentration independently of changes in total body potassium. The present study demonstrates similar interrelationships in humans.