Tall peaked T waves indicate which electrolyte disturbance?

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Multiple Choice

Tall peaked T waves indicate which electrolyte disturbance?

Elevated potassium levels alter ventricular repolarization, producing tall peaked T waves on the ECG. When extracellular potassium rises, the gradient across the cell membrane changes in a way that speeds up repolarization, giving those tall, narrow T waves. As potassium continues to rise, other changes appear—PR prolongation and QRS widening—ultimately risking dangerous rhythms. This pattern helps distinguish hyperkalemia from other disturbances: low potassium tends to flatten T waves with prominent U waves; high calcium shortens the QT interval; hyponatremia doesn’t produce this characteristic tall T-wave appearance.

Elevated potassium levels alter ventricular repolarization, producing tall peaked T waves on the ECG. When extracellular potassium rises, the gradient across the cell membrane changes in a way that speeds up repolarization, giving those tall, narrow T waves. As potassium continues to rise, other changes appear—PR prolongation and QRS widening—ultimately risking dangerous rhythms.

This pattern helps distinguish hyperkalemia from other disturbances: low potassium tends to flatten T waves with prominent U waves; high calcium shortens the QT interval; hyponatremia doesn’t produce this characteristic tall T-wave appearance.

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