17th February 2025

A 35-year-old gentleman who works as a boiler repairman is seen in the emergency department with a cough productive of purulent sputum and fever.

A 35-year-old gentleman who works as a boiler repairman is seen in the emergency department with a cough productive of purulent sputum and fever. He has no previous medical history. His blood cultures show a Gram-negative bacillus and his blood tests show the following:

Haemoglobin 155 (130 – 180)

White cell count 16 (4 -11)

Alanine phosphatase 110 (30 – 130)

Alanine aminotransferase 62 (<41)

Aspartate aminotransferase 52 (<45)

Bilirubin 17 (<21)

CRP 136 (<5)

What electrolyte abnormality might you expect to see on further blood tests?

Select the SINGLE most appropriate option from the list below. Select ONE option only.