RESUMO
In order to evaluate the efficiency of albuterol sulfate (salbutamol) in lowering of potassium levels in uremic children with hyperkalemia, we intravenously administered salbutamol 30 micrograms/min (total doses 0.5 mg) to ten children with chronic renal failure (CRF) with high serum levels of potassium. Forty five minutes after administration, potassium serum levels were lower going from 6.79 +/- 0.57 mmol/L to 5.04 +/- 1.10 mmol/L; increasing levels were documented 6 hours later up to 5.76 +/- 0.66 mmol/L. Lowering in potassium serum levels was associated with disappearance of electrocardiographic manifestations of hyperkalemia. We observed moderated tachycardia in 90% of our patients and only one patient required withdrawal of this drug for high cardiac frequency rate. We conclude that salbutamol is a useful and safe choice in treatment of hyperkalemia in children with CRF.