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Journal article
Inhaled albuterol rapidly decreases whole blood potassium and increases plasma insulin concentrations, with peak effects 30 minutes after administration in cats
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
2025
PMID: 40139156
Abstract
Objective
To characterize the effects of inhaled albuterol on blood potassium and glucose concentrations, heart rate (HR), and plasma insulin levels in normokalemic cats.
Methods
In a prospective, randomized study between June 2023 and January 2024, 20 client-owned cats received albuterol sulfate at a low dose (90 µg) or high dose (360 µg). Blood samples and HR were obtained at baseline and 10 time points after albuterol delivery. Blood potassium and glucose concentrations were measured via blood gas analyzer and plasma insulin levels by radioimmunoassay.
Results
Blood potassium concentrations decreased rapidly after albuterol delivery compared to baseline for the low dose and high dose within 3 minutes and remained significantly decreased until 180 minutes. The maximal decrease in potassium concentration for albuterol at the low dose was –0.52 mmol/L (95% CI, –0.66 to –0.37) and high dose was –0.38 mmol/L (95% CI, –0.52 to –0.23) and occurred at 30 minutes for both doses. Plasma insulin levels rapidly increased, with peak effect at 30 minutes for both the low dose (5.10 µIU/mL; 95% CI, 2.79 to 7.40) and high dose (3.86 µIU/mL; 95% CI, 1.49 to 6.22). There was no correlation between nadir potassium concentration and albuterol dose (r = 0.12).
Conclusions
Albuterol rapidly decreases blood potassium concentrations in part by stimulating endogenous insulin secretion in cats without dose-dependent effects or clinically meaningful changes in HR or glucose concentrations.
Clinical Relevance
Inhaled albuterol may be useful to decrease blood potassium concentrations in hyperkalemic cats.
Details
- Title
- Inhaled albuterol rapidly decreases whole blood potassium and increases plasma insulin concentrations, with peak effects 30 minutes after administration in cats
- Authors/Creators
- Jared A Jaffey - Midwestern UniversityAnderson da Cunha - 1Department of Specialty Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZTokiko Kushiro-Banker - Midwestern UniversityRenata S Costa - Murdoch University, School of Veterinary MedicineMark Acierno - Midwestern UniversityChase Irwin - Midwestern UniversityLauren Chittick - Midwestern UniversityNatacha Montalvo - 3Office of Clinical Research Services, College of Veterinary Medicine, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZMia Felix - Midwestern UniversityMegan Valentine - Midwestern UniversityGurpinder Dhaliwal - Midwestern UniversityJean M Brudvig - Michigan State University
- Publication Details
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Publisher
- AVMA Publications
- Identifiers
- 991005779515107891
- Copyright
- © 2025 The authors
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary Medicine
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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