Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer

Introduction. The treatment strategy for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has changed with the approval of several new agents. In 2011, abiraterone acetate was approved for the treatment of metastatic CRPC; however abiraterone is known to cause mineralocorticoid excess syndrome characteri...

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Main Authors: Yutaka Yamamoto, Yasunori Akashi, Takahumi Minami, Masahiro Nozawa, Keisuke Kiba, Motokiyo Yoshikawa, Akihide Hirayama, Hirotsugu Uemura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2018-01-01
Series:Case Reports in Urology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/1414395
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author Yutaka Yamamoto
Yasunori Akashi
Takahumi Minami
Masahiro Nozawa
Keisuke Kiba
Motokiyo Yoshikawa
Akihide Hirayama
Hirotsugu Uemura
author_facet Yutaka Yamamoto
Yasunori Akashi
Takahumi Minami
Masahiro Nozawa
Keisuke Kiba
Motokiyo Yoshikawa
Akihide Hirayama
Hirotsugu Uemura
author_sort Yutaka Yamamoto
collection DOAJ
description Introduction. The treatment strategy for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has changed with the approval of several new agents. In 2011, abiraterone acetate was approved for the treatment of metastatic CRPC; however abiraterone is known to cause mineralocorticoid excess syndrome characterized by hypokalemia, fluid retention, and hypertension. We experienced two cases of grade 4 hypokalemia associated with abiraterone treatment. Case Presentation. Case 1: a 71-year-old male with metastatic CRPC presented with convulsive seizures two weeks after receiving abiraterone plus prednisone. The serum potassium level was 2.1mEq/l. We determined that convulsive seizure was caused by hypokalemia associated with abiraterone. Case 2: a 68-year-old male with metastatic CRPC presented with severe lethargy one month after receiving abiraterone plus prednisone. The serum potassium level was 1.7mEq/l and we concluded that severe lethargy was caused by hypokalemia associated with abiraterone. They were treated with potassium supplementation and increased prednisone following withdrawal of abiraterone. Discussion. The two patients had been on glucocorticoid therapy before abiraterone therapy. Prolonged administration of exogenous glucocorticoid can lead adrenocortical insufficiency and consequently reduce endogenous glucocorticoid production. This situation may increase the risk of abiraterone-induced mineralocorticoid excess. To reduce the risk of abiraterone-induced hypokalemia, evaluation of adrenocortical insufficiency is required.
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spelling doaj-art-c7b00fa913474460bb0ce8f956ffa4332025-08-20T02:20:05ZengWileyCase Reports in Urology2090-696X2090-69782018-01-01201810.1155/2018/14143951414395Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate CancerYutaka Yamamoto0Yasunori Akashi1Takahumi Minami2Masahiro Nozawa3Keisuke Kiba4Motokiyo Yoshikawa5Akihide Hirayama6Hirotsugu Uemura7Department of Urology, Nara Hospital, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 1248-1 Otodacho Ikoma, Nara 630-0293, JapanDepartment of Urology, Nara Hospital, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 1248-1 Otodacho Ikoma, Nara 630-0293, JapanDepartment of Urology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osakasayama, Osaka 589-8511, JapanDepartment of Urology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osakasayama, Osaka 589-8511, JapanDepartment of Urology, Nara Hospital, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 1248-1 Otodacho Ikoma, Nara 630-0293, JapanDepartment of Urology, Nara Hospital, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 1248-1 Otodacho Ikoma, Nara 630-0293, JapanDepartment of Urology, Nara Hospital, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 1248-1 Otodacho Ikoma, Nara 630-0293, JapanDepartment of Urology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohno-Higashi, Osakasayama, Osaka 589-8511, JapanIntroduction. The treatment strategy for castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) has changed with the approval of several new agents. In 2011, abiraterone acetate was approved for the treatment of metastatic CRPC; however abiraterone is known to cause mineralocorticoid excess syndrome characterized by hypokalemia, fluid retention, and hypertension. We experienced two cases of grade 4 hypokalemia associated with abiraterone treatment. Case Presentation. Case 1: a 71-year-old male with metastatic CRPC presented with convulsive seizures two weeks after receiving abiraterone plus prednisone. The serum potassium level was 2.1mEq/l. We determined that convulsive seizure was caused by hypokalemia associated with abiraterone. Case 2: a 68-year-old male with metastatic CRPC presented with severe lethargy one month after receiving abiraterone plus prednisone. The serum potassium level was 1.7mEq/l and we concluded that severe lethargy was caused by hypokalemia associated with abiraterone. They were treated with potassium supplementation and increased prednisone following withdrawal of abiraterone. Discussion. The two patients had been on glucocorticoid therapy before abiraterone therapy. Prolonged administration of exogenous glucocorticoid can lead adrenocortical insufficiency and consequently reduce endogenous glucocorticoid production. This situation may increase the risk of abiraterone-induced mineralocorticoid excess. To reduce the risk of abiraterone-induced hypokalemia, evaluation of adrenocortical insufficiency is required.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/1414395
spellingShingle Yutaka Yamamoto
Yasunori Akashi
Takahumi Minami
Masahiro Nozawa
Keisuke Kiba
Motokiyo Yoshikawa
Akihide Hirayama
Hirotsugu Uemura
Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
Case Reports in Urology
title Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_full Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_fullStr Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_short Serious Hypokalemia Associated with Abiraterone Acetate in Patients with Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer
title_sort serious hypokalemia associated with abiraterone acetate in patients with castration resistant prostate cancer
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/1414395
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