Programme

15:25 TS-05-01
Beyond Spironolactone: Does Next-Generation Aldosterone Blockade Reduce Hyperkalemia?
Ulrich Wenzel, Hamburg, Germany

15:45 TS-05-02
Potassium-enriched salt substitutes: supporting global cardiovascular and kidney health
Ewout Hoorn, Rotterdam, Netherlands

16:05 TS-05-03
How to keep potassium in the range (physiology)
Richard Warth, Regensburg, Germany

16:25 TS-05-04
Potassium and blood pressure
Robert Fenton, Arhus, Netherlands

Short description:
This symposium explores the clinical and physiological dimensions of potassium regulation in cardiovascular and renal disease. It will examine the therapeutic potential of a new class of antihypertensive drugs targeting the aldosterone pathway, focusing not only on their blood pressure–lowering and cardiorenal protective effects but also on their impact on potassium balance and the risk of hyperkalemia. At the same time, evidence from randomized trials and systematic reviews indicating cardiovascular benefits of higher dietary potassium intake, as well as data suggesting a protective effect on renal function in early chronic kidney disease, will be critically evaluated in the context of hyperkalemia risk. Integrating these clinical considerations with fundamental insights into the regulation of potassium homeostasis, the symposium will address how potassium levels are maintained within the physiological range in health and disease and how they interact with blood pressure control. Particular emphasis will be placed on whether increasing dietary potassium intake is generally associated with lower blood pressure, independent of dosage and salt intake, providing a cohesive view of potassium regulation across therapeutic, nutritional, and physiological perspectives.