The nurse is caring for a client in acute addisonian crisis. Which laboratory data would the nurse expect to find?

The nurse is caring for a client in acute addisonian crisis. Which laboratory data would the nurse expect to find?

• A. Hyperkalemia
• B. Reduced blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
• C. Hypernatremia
• D. Hyperglycemia

Answer: (A)

Aldosterone deficiency during an acute adrenal crisis leads to the kidneys retaining potassium and losing sodium. Without aldosterone, potassium is not excreted effectively in the distal tubules, so potassium builds up in the blood, producing hyperkalemia. At the same time, sodium loss causes hyponatremia and volume depletion, and BUN tends to rise with dehydration rather than fall. Glucose can be affected by cortisol deficiency, often resulting in low or normal glucose rather than high. So the most characteristic lab finding is elevated potassium due to lack of aldosterone-driven potassium excretion.

Aldosterone deficiency during an acute adrenal crisis leads to the kidneys retaining potassium and losing sodium. Without aldosterone, potassium is not excreted effectively in the distal tubules, so potassium builds up in the blood, producing hyperkalemia. At the same time, sodium loss causes hyponatremia and volume depletion, and BUN tends to rise with dehydration rather than fall. Glucose can be affected by cortisol deficiency, often resulting in low or normal glucose rather than high. So the most characteristic lab finding is elevated potassium due to lack of aldosterone-driven potassium excretion.