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Journal of the American Society of... May 2017Hyponatremia is a common water balance disorder that often poses a diagnostic or therapeutic challenge. Therefore, guidelines were developed by professional... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia is a common water balance disorder that often poses a diagnostic or therapeutic challenge. Therefore, guidelines were developed by professional organizations, one from within the United States (2013) and one from within Europe (2014). This review discusses the diagnosis and treatment of hyponatremia, comparing the two guidelines and highlighting recent developments. Diagnostically, the initial step is to differentiate hypotonic from nonhypotonic hyponatremia. Hypotonic hyponatremia is further differentiated on the basis of urine osmolality, urine sodium level, and volume status. Recently identified parameters, including fractional uric acid excretion and plasma copeptin concentration, may further improve the diagnostic approach. The treatment for hyponatremia is chosen on the basis of duration and symptoms. For acute or severely symptomatic hyponatremia, both guidelines adopted the approach of giving a bolus of hypertonic saline. Although fluid restriction remains the first-line treatment for most forms of chronic hyponatremia, therapy to increase renal free water excretion is often necessary. Vasopressin receptor antagonists, urea, and loop diuretics serve this purpose, but received different recommendations in the two guidelines. Such discrepancies may relate to different interpretations of the limited evidence or differences in guideline methodology. Nevertheless, the development of guidelines has been important in advancing this evolving field.
Topics: Acute Disease; Algorithms; Chronic Disease; Diagnosis, Differential; Glycopeptides; Humans; Hyponatremia; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Vasopressins
PubMed: 28174217
DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2016101139 -
The American Journal of Emergency... Oct 2022Hyponatremia, defined as a serum sodium <135 mmol/L, is frequently encountered in patients presenting to the emergency department. Symptoms are often unspecific and... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia, defined as a serum sodium <135 mmol/L, is frequently encountered in patients presenting to the emergency department. Symptoms are often unspecific and include a recent history of falls, weakness and vertigo. Common causes of hyponatremia include diuretics, heart failure as well as Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuresis (SIAD) and correct diagnosis can be challenging. Emergency treatment of hyponatremia should be guided by presence of symptoms and focus on distinguishing between acute and chronic hyponatremia.
Topics: Diuretics; Emergency Service, Hospital; Humans; Hyponatremia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Sodium
PubMed: 35870366
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajem.2022.07.023 -
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology... Jul 2022Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disturbance seen in clinical practice, affecting up to 30% of acute hospital admissions, and is associated with significant... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disturbance seen in clinical practice, affecting up to 30% of acute hospital admissions, and is associated with significant adverse clinical outcomes. Acute or severe symptomatic hyponatremia carries a high risk of neurological morbidity and mortality. In contrast, chronic hyponatremia is associated with significant morbidity including increased risk of falls, osteoporosis, fractures, gait instability, and cognitive decline; prolonged hospital admissions; and etiology-specific increase in mortality. In this Approach to the Patient, we review and compare the current recommendations, guidelines, and literature for diagnosis and treatment options for both acute and chronic hyponatremia, illustrated by 2 case studies. Particular focus is concentrated on the diagnosis and management of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis. An understanding of the pathophysiology of hyponatremia, along with a synthesis of the duration of hyponatremia, biochemical severity, symptomatology, and blood volume status, forms the structure to guide the appropriate and timely management of hyponatremia. We present 2 illustrative cases that represent common presentations with hyponatremia and discuss the approach to management of these and other causes of hyponatremia.
Topics: Chronic Disease; Humans; Hyponatremia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome
PubMed: 35511757
DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgac245 -
Clinics in Liver Disease May 2022Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in clinical practice, and it is a common complication of cirrhosis reflecting an increase in nonosmotic... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder encountered in clinical practice, and it is a common complication of cirrhosis reflecting an increase in nonosmotic secretion of arginine vasopressin as a result of of the circulatory dysfunction that is characteristic of advanced liver disease. Hyponatremia in cirrhosis has been associated with poor clinical outcomes including increased risk of morbidity and mortality, poor quality of life, and heightened health care utilization. Despite this, the treatment of hyponatremia in cirrhosis remains challenging as conventional therapies such as fluid restriction are frequently ineffective. In this review, we discuss the epidemiology, clinical outcomes, pathogenesis, etiology, evaluation, and management of hyponatremia in cirrhosis.
Topics: Humans; Hyponatremia; Liver Cirrhosis; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35487602
DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2022.01.001 -
Clinical Interventions in Aging 2017Decreased serum sodium concentration is a rather frequent electrolyte disorder in the elderly population because of the presence of factors contributing to increased... (Review)
Review
Decreased serum sodium concentration is a rather frequent electrolyte disorder in the elderly population because of the presence of factors contributing to increased antidiuretic hormone, the frequent prescription of drugs associated with hyponatremia and also because of other mechanisms such as the "tea and toast" syndrome. The aim of this review is to present certain challenges in the evaluation and treatment of hyponatremia in the elderly population and provide practical solutions. Hyponatremia in elderly subjects is mainly caused by drugs (more frequently thiazides and antidepressants), the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIAD) or endocrinopathies; however, hyponatremia is multifactorial in a significant proportion of patients. Special attention is needed in the elderly population to exclude endocrinopathies as a cause of hyponatremia before establishing the diagnosis of SIAD, which then requires a stepped diagnostic approach to reveal its underlying cause. The treatment of hyponatremia depends on the type of hyponatremia. Special attention is also needed to correct serum sodium levels at the appropriate rate, especially in chronic hyponatremia, in order to avoid the osmotic demyelination syndrome. In conclusion, both the evaluation and the treatment of hyponatremia pose many challenges in the elderly population.
Topics: Aged; Antidepressive Agents; Humans; Hyponatremia; Hypopituitarism; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Sodium Chloride Symporter Inhibitors
PubMed: 29180859
DOI: 10.2147/CIA.S138535 -
Current Cardiology Reviews 2019Hyponatremia is a very common electrolyte abnormality, associated with poor short- and long-term outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Two opposite processes can... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia is a very common electrolyte abnormality, associated with poor short- and long-term outcomes in patients with heart failure (HF). Two opposite processes can result in hyponatremia in this setting: Volume overload with dilutional hypervolemic hyponatremia from congestion, and hypovolemic hyponatremia from excessive use of natriuretics. These two conditions require different therapeutic approaches. While sodium in the form of normal saline can be lifesaving in the second case, the same treatment would exacerbate hyponatremia in the first case. Hypervolemic hyponatremia in HF patients is multifactorial and occurs mainly due to the persistent release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) in the setting of ineffective renal perfusion secondary to low cardiac output. Fluid restriction and loop diuretics remain mainstay treatments for hypervolemic/ dilutional hyponatremia in patients with HF. In recent years, a few strategies, such as AVP antagonists (Tolvaptan, Conivaptan, and Lixivaptan), and hypertonic saline in addition to loop diuretics, have been proposed as potentially promising treatment options for this condition. This review aimed to summarize the current literature on pathogenesis and management of hyponatremia in patients with HF.
Topics: Heart Failure; Humans; Hyponatremia
PubMed: 30843491
DOI: 10.2174/1573403X15666190306111812 -
Endocrine Reviews Sep 2023Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder, affecting more than 15% of patients in the hospital. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) is the most... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder, affecting more than 15% of patients in the hospital. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD) is the most frequent cause of hypotonic hyponatremia, mediated by nonosmotic release of arginine vasopressin (AVP, previously known as antidiuretic hormone), which acts on the renal V2 receptors to promote water retention. There are a variety of underlying causes of SIAD, including malignancy, pulmonary pathology, and central nervous system pathology. In clinical practice, the etiology of hyponatremia is frequently multifactorial and the management approach may need to evolve during treatment of a single episode. It is therefore important to regularly reassess clinical status and biochemistry, while remaining alert to potential underlying etiological factors that may become more apparent during the course of treatment. In the absence of severe symptoms requiring urgent intervention, fluid restriction (FR) is widely endorsed as the first-line treatment for SIAD in current guidelines, but there is considerable controversy regarding second-line therapy in instances where FR is unsuccessful, which occurs in around half of cases. We review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and differential diagnosis of SIAD, and summarize recent evidence for therapeutic options beyond FR, with a focus on tolvaptan, urea, and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors.
Topics: Humans; Hyponatremia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Water-Electrolyte Balance; Neoplasms
PubMed: 36974717
DOI: 10.1210/endrev/bnad010 -
Internal Medicine (Tokyo, Japan) 2008Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disorder that is defined by a serum sodium concentration of less than 136 mmol/L. Hyponatremia occurs at a high incidence. It is commonly... (Review)
Review
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte disorder that is defined by a serum sodium concentration of less than 136 mmol/L. Hyponatremia occurs at a high incidence. It is commonly associated with mild to moderate mental impairment. Hypoosmolar hyponatremia occurs in the setting of plasma volume deficiency ("hypovolemia", e. g. after gastrointestinal fluid loss), liver cirrhosis and cardiac failure ("hypervolemic" hyponatremia) and syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion ("euvolemic" hyponatremia). Excessive antidiuretic hormone and continued fluid intake are the pathogenetic causes of these hyponatremias. Whereas hypovolemic hyponatremia is best corrected by isotonic saline, conventional proposals for euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia consist of the following: fluid restriction, lithium carbonate, demeclocycline, urea and loop diuretic. None of these nonspecific treatments is entirely satisfactory. Recently a new class of pharmacological agents -orally available vasopressin antagonists, collectively called vaptans- have been described. A number of clinical trials using vaptans have been performed already. They showed vaptans to be effective, specific and safe in the treatment of euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia.
Topics: Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; Clinical Trials as Topic; Humans; Hyponatremia; Hypovolemia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Plasma Volume; Sodium
PubMed: 18480571
DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.47.0918 -
BMC Medicine Dec 2014Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder. Multiple organizations have published guidance documents to assist clinicians in managing hyponatremia. We aimed to... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte disorder. Multiple organizations have published guidance documents to assist clinicians in managing hyponatremia. We aimed to explore the scope, content, and consistency of these documents.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and websites of guideline organizations and professional societies to September 2014 without language restriction for Clinical Practice Guidelines (defined as any document providing guidance informed by systematic literature review) and Consensus Statements (any other guidance document) developed specifically to guide differential diagnosis or treatment of hyponatremia. Four reviewers appraised guideline quality using the 23-item AGREE II instrument, which rates reporting of the guidance development process across six domains: scope and purpose, stakeholder involvement, rigor of development, clarity of presentation, applicability, and editorial independence. Total scores were calculated as standardized averages by domain.
RESULTS
We found ten guidance documents; five clinical practice guidelines and five consensus statements. Overall, quality was mixed: two clinical practice guidelines attained an average score of >50% for all of the domains, three rated the evidence in a systematic way and two graded strength of the recommendations. All five consensus statements received AGREE scores below 60% for each of the specific domains.The guidance documents varied widely in scope. All dealt with therapy and seven included recommendations on diagnosis, using serum osmolality to confirm hypotonic hyponatremia, and volume status, urinary sodium concentration, and urinary osmolality for further classification of the hyponatremia. They differed, however, in classification thresholds, what additional tests to consider, and when to initiate diagnostic work-up. Eight guidance documents advocated hypertonic NaCl in severely symptomatic, acute onset (<48 h) hyponatremia. In chronic (>48 h) or asymptomatic cases, recommended treatments were NaCl 0.9%, fluid restriction, and cause-specific therapy for hypovolemic, euvolemic, and hypervolemic hyponatremia, respectively. Eight guidance documents recommended limits for speed of increase of sodium concentration, but these varied between 8 and 12 mmol/L per 24 h. Inconsistencies also existed in the recommended dose of NaCl, its initial infusion speed, and which second line interventions to consider.
CONCLUSIONS
Current guidance documents on the assessment and treatment of hyponatremia vary in methodological rigor and recommendations are not always consistent.
Topics: Consensus; Humans; Hyponatremia; Practice Guidelines as Topic
PubMed: 25539784
DOI: 10.1186/s12916-014-0231-1 -
European Journal of Clinical... Aug 2015Hyponatraemia is a very common medical condition that is associated with multiple poor clinical outcomes and is often managed suboptimally because of inadequate...
BACKGROUND
Hyponatraemia is a very common medical condition that is associated with multiple poor clinical outcomes and is often managed suboptimally because of inadequate assessment and investigation. Previously published guidelines for its management are often complex and impractical to follow in a hospital environment, where patients may present to divergent specialists, as well as to generalists.
DESIGN
A group of senior, experienced UK clinicians, met to develop a practical algorithm for the assessment and management of hyponatraemia in a hospital setting. The latest evidence was discussed and reviewed in the light of current clinical practicalities to ensure an up-to-date perspective. An algorithm was largely developed following consensus opinion, followed up with subsequent additions and amendments that were agreed by all authors during several rounds of review.
RESULTS
We present a practical algorithm which includes a breakdown of the best methods to evaluate volume status, simple assessments for the diagnosis of the various causes and a straightforward approach to treatment to minimise complexity and maximise patient safety.
CONCLUSION
The algorithm we have developed reflects the best available evidence and extensive clinical experience and provides practical, useable guidance to improve patient care.
Topics: Algorithms; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; Benzazepines; Demeclocycline; Fluid Therapy; Hospitalization; Humans; Hyponatremia; Inappropriate ADH Syndrome; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Tolvaptan; Water-Electrolyte Imbalance
PubMed: 25995119
DOI: 10.1111/eci.12465