Misleading plasma electrolytes in diabetic children with severe hyperlipidemia.Arch. Dis. Child

SUMMARY Severe abnormalities of plasma electrolyte concentrations were observed in 4 children who had massive hyperlipidaemia secondary to poorly-controlled, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. These electrolyte values were fallacious and invoked problems of clinical management, particularly with regard to fluid repla^ement. Each case is described and the interpretation of plasma electrolyte values in hyperlipidaemia is discussed. Moderately raised serum lipids and lipoproteins often are found in adults with diabetes mellitusI-3 and in diabetic children4- both before and after treatment. Severe hyperlipidaemia in association with diabetes is however much less common.7 We describe 4 children with insulin-dependent diabetes who developed massive hyperlipidaemia associated with a variable degree of metabolic decompensation. In all 4 patients the plasma electrolyte values were fallaciously low