A 76 yo female presents with seizures. She takes no regular medications. On examination she weighs 60kg, has no evidence of cardiac failure or liver disease, and appears euvolaemic. Her blood results in the emergency department reveal:
| Plasma | ||
| Normal Range | ||
| Na+ | 110mmol/L | 134-143 |
| K+ | 3.8 mmol/L | 3.5-5.0 |
| Cl- | 81 mmol/L | 97-107 |
| HCO3- | 24 mmol/L | 24-34 |
| Urea | 5.7 mmol/L | 3.1-8.1 |
| Creatinine | 36 micromol/L | 50-90 |
| Glucose | 4.1 mmol/L | 4.4-6.8 |
| Osmolality | 237 mmol/Kg | 274-289 |
|
Urine |
||
| Na+ | 23 mmol/L | |
| Osmolality | 488 mmol/Kg | |
a) What is the likely cause of the hyponatraemia?
b) Approximately how many mmol of NaCl would need to be given to raise her serum sodium to 120mmol/L? . Show your calculations.
a) What is the likely cause of the hyponatraemia?
SIADH
b) Approximately how many mmol of NaCl would need to be given to raise her serum sodium to 120mmol/L? . Show your calculations.
An answer between300 – 360 mmol was acceptable) (Sodium deficit = TBW x (desired Na – Actual Na)
= 0.5/0.6 x 60 x (120-110)
= 30/36 x 10
= 300/360)
This is a hypoosmolar hyponatremia with a high urine osmolality and a high urine sodium.
The urine osmolality suggests that the kidneys are retaining water in spite of decreased body tonicity, and the inappropriately high urine sodium (>20mmol/L) suggests that are negligently wasting sodium. Of course, nobody is wasting anything - they are merely excreting a normal daily load (150-250mmol in the Western world), keeping up with intake.
This smells like SIADH.
Alternative differentials might include
The question about sodium replacement relies on the candidate's ability to recall the formula for total body sodium deficit.
The formula is as follows:
Na+ Deficit = Total Body Water × Weight in kg × (desired Na+ - measured Na+)
( where TBW = 0.6 if male and 0.5 if female)
Thus, for this 60kg lady, the calculation would be:
(60) × (0.5) × (140-110) = 900mmol ... to bring the sodium back to a normal range
But, of course, a more sensible target would be a sodium level where seizures are no longer a problem. 120mmol/L would suffice. Thereafter, one can rely on water restriction to maintain the steady rise of body tonicity. In this case, the lady only needs 300mmol of sodium, which is two bags of isotonic saline.
Palmer, Biff F. "Hyponatremia in patients with central nervous system disease: SIADH versus CSW." Trends in Endocrinology & Metabolism 14.4 (2003): 182-187.
Milionis, Haralampos J., George L. Liamis, and Moses S. Elisaf. "The hyponatremic patient: a systematic approach to laboratory diagnosis."Canadian Medical Association Journal 166.8 (2002): 1056-1062.