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Hyponatraemia: Difference between revisions
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'''Hyponatraemia''' is a disorder of [[sodium]] homeostasis characterised by low levels of sodium (< 135 or 136 mmol/L). It's the most common electrolyte abnormality, affecting 3-10% of patients in the emergency department. It's usually mild and is self-limiting, but severe hyponatraemia is lethal. Determining the volume status and serum osmolality of the patient is important in determining the cause. Treatment involves water restriction or sodium repletion. | <section begin="clinical biochemistry" />'''Hyponatraemia''' is a disorder of [[sodium]] homeostasis characterised by low levels of sodium (< 135 or 136 mmol/L). It's the most common electrolyte abnormality, affecting 3-10% of patients in the emergency department. It's usually mild and is self-limiting, but severe hyponatraemia is lethal. Determining the volume status and serum osmolality of the patient is important in determining the cause. Treatment involves water restriction or sodium repletion. | ||
{{Infobox medical condition | {{Infobox medical condition | ||
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| complications = Cerebral oedema, osmotic demyelination syndrome | | complications = Cerebral oedema, osmotic demyelination syndrome | ||
}} | }} | ||
== Grading of severity == | == Grading of severity == | ||
{| class="wikitable" | {| class="wikitable" | ||
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... which can be used to narrow the list of possible causes. | ... which can be used to narrow the list of possible causes. | ||
<section end="clinical biochemistry" /> | |||
=== Determining fluid status === | === Determining fluid status === | ||
Determining fluid or volume status also helps us determining the cause, especially if there is hypotonic hyponatraemia. Determining fluid status can be difficult, but there are some features which can help: | Determining fluid or volume status also helps us determining the cause, especially if there is hypotonic hyponatraemia. Determining fluid status can be difficult, but there are some features which can help: | ||