Heparin-Induced Renal Tubular Acidosis Masquerading as Hyperkalemia in a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Patient: A Case Report

Vidya Baleguli; Riaz Mahmood; Martin Herrera; Erine Raybon-Rojas

doi:10.7759/cureus.20312

Heparin-Induced Renal Tubular Acidosis Masquerading as Hyperkalemia in a SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Patient: A Case Report

Cureus. 2021 Dec 9;13(12):e20312. doi: 10.7759/cureus.20312. eCollection 2021 Dec.

Authors

Vidya Baleguli¹, Riaz Mahmood¹, Martin Herrera¹, Erine Raybon-Rojas²

Affiliations

¹ Internal Medicine, Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, Gainesville, USA.
² Critical Care Medicine, Northeast Georgia Medical Center Gainesville, Gainesville, USA.

Abstract

Type 4 renal tubular acidosis (RTA) is a type of metabolic acidosis characterized by hyperchloremia and hyperkalemia resulting from the reduction in and/or resistance to aldosterone. RTA can be caused by multiple different medications including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), potassium-sparing diuretics, and heparin. In this case, we discuss renal tubular acidosis caused by heparin use for the prevention of thromboembolic disease in COVID-19 infections.

Keywords: covid-19; creatinine; heparin; hyperkalemia; potassium; renal tubular acidosis type 4; rta.

Publication types

Case Reports