Comparison of Potassium Binders in the ER

Phase 4

Terminated

• Conditions: Acute Hyperkalemia; Oral Potassium Binders
• Interventions: Drug: Patiromer; Drug: Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate; Drug: Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Oral Suspension [SPS]; Drug: Polyethylene Glycol 3350

• Registration Number: NCT04585542
• Lead Sponsor: University of California, Irvine

Brief Summary

Compare efficacy of 3 oral potassium binders (cation exchange resins) on lowering blood potassium, in hospital patients with acute hyperkalemia.

Detailed Description

Adult patients presenting to the Emergency Room or currently hospitalized at UC Irvine (not in ICU level of care) with plasma potassium \>5.5 mEq/L (who meet inclusion/exclusion criteria and provide written informed consent) will be randomized to a one-time dose of one of the following oral medications:

1. Sodium polystyrene sulfate (SPS)

2. Patiromer (Veltassa)

3. Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (Lokelma)

4. Nonspecific laxative: polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLax)

Participants will receive standard-of-care hyperkalemia therapy as well.

Blood potassium will be checked at 2 and 4 hours after dose of study drug. Participants will complete a symptom and palatability questionnaire at 4 hours.

The purpose of this research study is to determine the effects of various potassium binders (SPS, patiromer, zirconium) vs a non-specific laxative (MiraLax) in hospital patients found to have elevated blood potassium \> 5.5 mEq/L. Hyperkalemia is a fairly common electrolyte disorder with varying levels of severity. Moderate hyperkalemia is in the range 5.5-5.9 mEq/L while severe hyperkalemia is ≥6.0 mEq/L or if patient is symptomatic: muscle weakness/paralysis or with EKG changes (e.g., peaked T waves, widening QRS, arrhythmias including ventricular fibrillation or asystole). Hyperkalemia is most commonly associated with kidney insufficiency, metabolic acidosis, and the use of medications such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors.

In an emergency, the main goal is to reverse adverse cardiac effects and shift potassium into cells using interventions such as insulin/glucose and albuterol. However, these are only temporary measures. To remove potassium from the body, agents or interventions that may be used include cation exchange resins (potassium binders), loop diuretics, or dialysis. For over 50 years the only available oral cation exchange resin has been sodium polystyrene sulfonate. In recent years, two new agents (patiromer and zirconium) have been approved by the FDA for chronic management of hyperkalemia.

The cation exchange resins have not been studied head-to-head for acute hyperkalemia. This is a critical knowledge gap since acute hyperkalemia poses a significant burden on the healthcare system. In claims data analysis of 80,000 patients, half with hyperkalemia and half without, the patients with hyperkalemia had 4 times higher rate of inpatient admissions, 7 times longer average length of stay, and 30-day hospital readmission rate 14.21% vs 9.86% in the non-hyperkalemia cohort. The findings from our study will help inform decision-making guidelines for the treatment of acute hyperkalemia.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2020-09-30
• Study First Submitted QC: 2020-10-06
• Study First Posted: 2020-10-14
• Study Start: 2020-10-20
• Primary Completion: 2025-01-31
• Study Completion: 2025-01-31
• Status Verified: 2025-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-07-19
• Last Update Posted: 2025-07-23

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: TERMINATED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 37

Inclusion Criteria

• Plasma potassium > 5.5 mEq/L
• Age ≥18 years
• Patient able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

• Recent bowel surgery
• Ileus or bowel obstruction
• Pseudohyperkalemia signs and symptoms, such as excessive fist clenching, hemolyzed blood specimen, severe leukocytosis or thrombocytosis
• Pregnancy
• Active psychiatric disorder
• Diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperkalemia caused by any condition for which a therapy directed against the underlying cause of hyperkalemia would be a better treatment option
• Dialysis session expected within 4 hours after randomization
• History of hypersensitivity to sodium polystyrene sulfonate resin or patiromer
• Concurrent use of sorbitol (due to increased risk of intestinal necrosis when used with sodium polystyrene sulfonate)

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Patiromer (Veltassa)	Patiromer	Participants will be randomized to one of four study arms. They will receive one dose of the study drug. The potassium binder drugs of interest include sodium polystyrene sulfonate (one dose of 30g), patiromer (one dose of 25.2g), and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (one dose of 15g).
Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (Lokelma)	Sodium zirconium cyclosilicate	Participants will be randomized to one of four study arms. They will receive one dose of the study drug. The potassium binder drugs of interest include sodium polystyrene sulfonate (one dose of 30g), patiromer (one dose of 25.2g), and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (one dose of 15g).
Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (Kayexalate)	Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Oral Suspension [SPS]	Participants will be randomized to one of four study arms. They will receive one dose of the study drug. The potassium binder drugs of interest include sodium polystyrene sulfonate (one dose of 30g), patiromer (one dose of 25.2g), and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (one dose of 15g).
Polyethylene glycol 3350 (MiraLax)	Polyethylene Glycol 3350	Participants will be randomized to one of four study arms. They will receive one dose of the study drug. One study arm is the nonspecific laxative MiraLax (one dose of 17g). Since constipation can contribute to hyperkalemia, this arm will study the effect of treating constipation instead of direct cation exchange for potassium in the gut.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change in blood potassium level	Plasma potassium level measured at 2 and 4 hours after study drug was administered	The investigators will compare the change in blood potassium after administration of the study drug, in the acute setting.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Length of ER or hospital stay	Up to 60 days after study drug was administered	The investigators will compare length of ER or hospital stay associated with each study drug, obtained from medical chart review.
Dialysis yes/no within 8 hours	Within 8 hours of study drug being administered	The investigators will assess whether dialysis was needed to manage hyperkalemia, and whether dialysis requirement was affected by the study drug given. This will be assessed from medical chart review.
Change in calcium, phosphorus and magnesium	Measured at 2 and 4 hours after study drug was administered	The investigators will compare the effect of each study drug on blood calcium, phosphorus and magnesium levels, in the acute setting.
Palatability and side effects (patient subjective rating)	4 hours after study drug was administered	Participants will complete a 1-page brief survey assessing for potential study drug side effects including bloating, nausea, diarrhea and palpitations (answers are yes/no). Participants will also rate the palatability of the study drug using a 1-5 scale, with 5 being the best score (most palatable and easy to swallow).

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of California, Irvine Medical Center; 🇺🇸 Orange, California, United States