Which electrolyte disturbance is commonly associated with increased aldosterone activity due to renin-angiotensin stimulation?

Which electrolyte disturbance is commonly associated with increased aldosterone activity due to renin-angiotensin stimulation?

• A. Hypernatremia
• B. Hyperkalemia
• C. Hyponatremia
• D. Hypokalemia

Answer: (D)

When aldosterone activity rises due to renin-angiotensin stimulation, the kidneys reabsorb more sodium in the distal nephron and, to balance the charge, excrete more potassium into the urine. This increased potassium loss lowers serum potassium, so hypokalemia is the typical electrolyte disturbance in this scenario. The other options don’t fit as neatly: aldosterone mainly promotes sodium retention with water, not hypernatremia, and its effect is to decrease potassium rather than increase it, making hyperkalemia unlikely; hyponatremia would require a different balance of water and sodium, and hypernatremia is not the expected outcome of aldosterone-driven Na+ reabsorption.

When aldosterone activity rises due to renin-angiotensin stimulation, the kidneys reabsorb more sodium in the distal nephron and, to balance the charge, excrete more potassium into the urine. This increased potassium loss lowers serum potassium, so hypokalemia is the typical electrolyte disturbance in this scenario. The other options don’t fit as neatly: aldosterone mainly promotes sodium retention with water, not hypernatremia, and its effect is to decrease potassium rather than increase it, making hyperkalemia unlikely; hyponatremia would require a different balance of water and sodium, and hypernatremia is not the expected outcome of aldosterone-driven Na+ reabsorption.