Severe hyperkalaemia due to the concomitant use of salt substitutes and ACE inhibitors in hypertension: a potentially life threatening interaction

We report two cases of hyperkalaemia related to the use of the salt substit ute 'Lo Salt' in hypertensive patients on treatment with ACE inhibitors. In each case serum potassium returned to the normal range after cessation of the salt substitute. Without vigilance the contribution of the salt substit ute to hyperkalaemia would have been overlooked and an ACE inhibitor errone ously withdrawn.