Acute and concomitant deterioration of hyponatremia and renal dysfunction associated with heart and liver failure
E.J. Hoorn, J. Lindemans, R. Zietse
1 Department of Internal Medicine, 2 Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
DOI 10.5414/CNP65248
Abstract
Background: Although hyponatremia with concomitant renal dysfunction has been described anecdotally, little is known about how these two conditions are related, which type of renal dysfunction usually occurs, and which patients are at risk. Methods: From 3,029 measured serum sodium (SNa) concentrations in 3 months, patients with at least one SNa £ 125 mmol/l were selected, and divided in patients with at least 1 SCreat ³ 125 mmol/l (study group, n = 20), and patients whose SCreat remained normal (control group, n = 50). Results: During the first 5 days of hospitalization, SCreat almost doubled in the study group from 125 ± 40 mmol/l to 207 ± 72 mmol/l, while SNa decreased concurrently from 130 ± 2 mmol/l to 122 ± 3 mmol/l. The peak SCreat and SNa values coincided, and the average courses were highly correlated (r = 0.88, p < 0.001). The study group more often had heart failure (10/20 vs. 1/50, p < 0.001) and liver failure (7/20 vs. 4/50, p = 0.009), and received more often loop diuretics (13/20 vs. 12/50, p = 0.002), spironolactone (11/20 vs. 7/50, p = 0.001), and/or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (5/20 vs. 2/50, p = 0.02). Four patients were admitted to the intensive care (10 in control group, p = 1.0), and 5 patients died (10 in control group, p = 0.7). Conclusions: Renal dysfunction is common in severe hyponatremia and usually develops in an acute-on-chronic fashion with concomitant deterioration of both conditions. This concourse is associated with heart failure, liver failure, and/or a renal drug regimen. Given the recent results of clinical trials, this patient group may be especially suitable for treatment with vasopressin antagonists.
Author Details
Authors
Departments
- 1 Department of Internal Medicine,
- 2 Department of Clinical Chemistry, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Address
E.J. Hoorn, MD
Erasmus Medical Center
Dialysis Unit, Room Bd 391
Dr. Molewaterplein 40
3015 GD Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Email:
[email protected]
Citation
E.J. Hoorn, J. Lindemans and R. Zietse.Acute and concomitant deterioration of hyponatremia and renal dysfunction associated with heart and liver failure. 2006; 65: 248-255. doi: 10.5414/CNP65248.
