A 60-year-old woman is having symptoms of muscle weakness and fatigue. On examination, her blood pressure is 110/80 mm Hg, pulse 100/min, JVP 1 cm, heart sounds normal, and lungs clear. Her serum potassium level is 2.5 mEq/L, bicarbonate 15 mEq/L, and anion gap is normal. The urine potassium is 10 mEq/L.For the above patient with hypokalemia, select the most likely diagnosis.
lower gastrointestinal (GI) losses
prior use of diuretics
RTA
current use of diuretics
In lower GI loss (diarrhea), the blood pressure is normal, the urine potassium is low (< 25 mmol/F), and the bicarbonate is either normal or low.
Oncology