What Is Chronic Hyponatremia?
Chronic hyponatremia is a prolonged state of low serum sodium levels, often experienced by patients after surgery.
It can also be caused by several conditions such as psychiatric illness.
It has a high rate of mortality.
Chronic hyponatremia that presents clinical signs and symptoms must be treated immediately.
Lack of treatment can result to seizure that may lead to neurologic impairment, coma, and even death.
Normal serum sodium level is 135-145 mEq/L.
Diagnosis of chronic hyponatremia can be done several days after onset for serum sodium levels drop gradually and steady compared to acute hyponatremia.
Signs and symptoms often include: - Nausea - Vomiting - Weakness - Anorexia - Restlessness - Headache - Confusion - Lethargy - Malaise - Muscle spasms - Seizures - Deteriorating level of consciousness - Coma Once these symptoms manifest, treatment is necessary.
Administration of IV fluid is usually the first step in treating chronic hyponatremia.
Depending on the type of hyponatremia and severity of symptoms, IV fluid can be of 0.
9% saline (isotonic) or 3% saline (hypertonic).
The correction is done rapidly but with caution in patients with severe hyponatremia due to danger of brain herniation.
Mild cases are often treated with fluid restriction of 1-1.
5 liters of free water in a day.
Fluid restriction is very important especially if there is presence of SIADH.
Raising serum sodium levels should be at a rate of no more than 1 mEq/L for every hour.
For patients with severe hyponatremia symptoms, an hourly rise of 2 mEq/L for the first 2-3 hours may be done.
Total 24-hour raising of serum sodium levels should be equal but not greater than 10 mEq/L.
Faster administration poses risk of over-correction leading to osmotic demyelination syndrome.
Additional medication is given for patients having problems in complying with fluid restriction, or who have severe, persistent hyponatremia even through IV management.
Demeclocycline (Declomycin) 600 to 1,200 mg is given daily, resulting to elimination of free-water.
This medication can cause some effects on the liver and kidneys, requiring caution and careful monitoring on patients with renal and hepatic insufficiency.
Arginine vasopressin receptor antagonists are also helpful in treating patients with chronic hyponatremia.
It acts on the renal tubules, causing elimination of free water and retention of sodium.
Prompt diagnosis and management of chronic hyponatremia is essential to correct the condition and prevent complications.
It can also be caused by several conditions such as psychiatric illness.
It has a high rate of mortality.
Chronic hyponatremia that presents clinical signs and symptoms must be treated immediately.
Lack of treatment can result to seizure that may lead to neurologic impairment, coma, and even death.
Normal serum sodium level is 135-145 mEq/L.
Diagnosis of chronic hyponatremia can be done several days after onset for serum sodium levels drop gradually and steady compared to acute hyponatremia.
Signs and symptoms often include: - Nausea - Vomiting - Weakness - Anorexia - Restlessness - Headache - Confusion - Lethargy - Malaise - Muscle spasms - Seizures - Deteriorating level of consciousness - Coma Once these symptoms manifest, treatment is necessary.
Administration of IV fluid is usually the first step in treating chronic hyponatremia.
Depending on the type of hyponatremia and severity of symptoms, IV fluid can be of 0.
9% saline (isotonic) or 3% saline (hypertonic).
The correction is done rapidly but with caution in patients with severe hyponatremia due to danger of brain herniation.
Mild cases are often treated with fluid restriction of 1-1.
5 liters of free water in a day.
Fluid restriction is very important especially if there is presence of SIADH.
Raising serum sodium levels should be at a rate of no more than 1 mEq/L for every hour.
For patients with severe hyponatremia symptoms, an hourly rise of 2 mEq/L for the first 2-3 hours may be done.
Total 24-hour raising of serum sodium levels should be equal but not greater than 10 mEq/L.
Faster administration poses risk of over-correction leading to osmotic demyelination syndrome.
Additional medication is given for patients having problems in complying with fluid restriction, or who have severe, persistent hyponatremia even through IV management.
Demeclocycline (Declomycin) 600 to 1,200 mg is given daily, resulting to elimination of free-water.
This medication can cause some effects on the liver and kidneys, requiring caution and careful monitoring on patients with renal and hepatic insufficiency.
Arginine vasopressin receptor antagonists are also helpful in treating patients with chronic hyponatremia.
It acts on the renal tubules, causing elimination of free water and retention of sodium.
Prompt diagnosis and management of chronic hyponatremia is essential to correct the condition and prevent complications.
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