HYPERKALEMIA ASSOCIATED WITH CYCLOSPORINE (CSA) USE IN BONE-MARROW TRANSPLANTATION

Two adult leukemia patients underwent allogeneic bone marrow transplan tation and received cyclosporine (CsA) as part of their immunosuppress ive therapy. Despite adequate kidney function, both patients developed hyperkalemia. Cyclosporine was the only pharmaceutical agent to which this electrolyte abnormality could be attributed, Although the mechan ism of the hyperkalemia is unclear, it seems to be related to an aldos terone-resistant state. Cyclosporine-induced hyperkalemia is a relativ ely common occurrence; however, there is only a single 'case report' a ddressing this phenomenon in bone marrow transplantation patients. We propose both mechanisms and methods of managing CsA-associated hyperka lemia in allogeneic transplantation patients.