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Reynolds, RM Padfield, PL Seckl, JR (2006) Disorders of Sodium Balance
Reynolds, RM Padfield, PL Seckl, JR (2006) Disorders of Sodium Balance
Reynolds, RM Padfield, PL Seckl, JR (2006) Disorders of Sodium Balance
Hyponatraemia
Clinical signs of volume depletion Clinical state may not help diagnostically Usually easy to diagnose clinically
Plasma urea tends to be high rather than low Plasma urea tends to be low rather than high Heart failure
Urine sodium <30 mmol/l, but may be >30 if Urine sodium >30 mmol/l, but may be <30 Cirrhosis with ascites
intravenous saline has already been administered if dietary access to salt restricted Nephrotic syndrome
• Most difficulty arises in differentiating mild hypovolaemia from euvolaemic, dilutional, hyponatraemia. In both hypovolaemic and euvolaemic
hyponatraemia, plasma osmolality will be low and the urine will be less than maximally dilute (inappropriately concentrated). Plasma osmolality/urine
osmolality will rarely help clinical management
• Monitor sodium concentrations carefully (every hour if necessary during intravenous treatment)
• In a sick patient, consider parenteral hydrocortisone (100 mg) after taking blood for plasma cortisol, as glucocorticoids are anticipated to have little
toxicity in this acute setting and may be life saving