Lower Gastrointestinal Bleeding Associated With Sodium Polystyrene Sulfonate Use

Sodium polystyrene sulfonate (kayexalate) is a cation-exchange resin widely used in the management of hyperkalemia. Gastrointestinal adverse events are uncommon; symptoms are nonspecific, and mucosal injury can range from mild ulceration to bowel perforation. An 81-year-old man was admitted because of decompensation of cirrhosis with acute kidney injury and hyperkalemia, treated with sodium polystyrene sulfonate. During admission, he presented multiple episodes of hematochezia, accompanied by tachycardia and hemoglobin drop. Colonoscopy revealed colonic ulceration, and histopathological findings were compatible with ulceration due to kayexalate injury. Despite rare, the widespread use of sodium polystyrene sulfonate puts a large population at risk of serious complications related to its use.