A 48-Year-Old Man Is Brought to the Hospital Due to Sudden

A 48-year-old man is brought to the hospital due to sudden onset of central chest pain radiating to the lower jaw. He is a known cocaine abuser. In the ER patient appears anxious and diaphoretic. Blood pressure is 165/102 mmHg, Pulse is 96/min, and respirations are 19/ min. ECG reveals ST-elevation in the anterior leads. Laboratory studies reveal an elevated cardiac troponin level and a serum potassium concentration of 3.2 mEq/L. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's hypokalemia?

A) Decreased dietary potassium intake
B) Exchange of potassium with sodium in the intestine
C) Increased intracellular shift of potassium
D) Increased urinary loss of potassium
E) Increased use of potassium by new cells