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Abstract
Hyponatraemia is a common finding in patients with acute cerebral insults. The main differential diagnosis is between syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion and cerebral salt wasting. Our aim is to review the topic of hyponatraemia in patients with acute cerebral insults and suggest a clinical approach to diagnosis and management.
Key messages
Key messages
Careful adjustment of dose of desmopressin, cortisol, and some anticonvulsants, as all three interact
Provided that fluid replacement is maintained. DI is not life threatening
Excessive administration of desmopressin can result in hyponatraemia with fatal fluid overload and may require dialysis
The only biochemical difference between CSW and SIADH is the extracellular volume, decreased in the former and increased in the latter
In euvolaemic and hyponatraemic patients with cerebral insults: give sodium supplement and maintenance fluid intake first. If no improvement or deterioration, assess volume state with central venous pressure monitoring
Limit the rate of correction of plasma sodium to less than 12 mmol/l/day
- hyponatraemia
- SIADH
- cerebral salt wasting
- diabetes insipidus