• Mineralocorticoid excess:
  • Conn's syndrome
  • Cushing's syndrome
  • Bartter/Gitelman syndrome
  • Liquorice excess
  • Glucocorticoid therapy
• Fanconi syndrome
• Hypomagnesaemia
• Drugs, for example loop diuretics, thiazides, carbonate dehydratase inhibitors
• Renal tubular acidosis type 1 and 2

Predominantly non-renal causes

• Redistribution:
  • Alkalosis
  • Catecholamines
  • Vitamin B12 therapy
  • Insulin
  • Rapidly growing tumours
• Gastro-intestinal loss:
  • Prolonged diarrhea or vomiting
  • Intestinal fistula
  • Purgative abuse
• Poor intake of potassium
• Familial hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (rare)