Cardiac conduction defects associated with hyponatremia

Abstract

Cardiac conduction defects have not been previously described in association with hyponatremia, although in patients with congestive heart failure the frequency of ventricular premature beats was found to correlate to the severity of hyponatremia. We describe three patients with second-degree or complete atrioventricular (AV) block which occurred during or shortly after an episode of severe hyponatremia. The first had thiazide-induced hyponatremia while on amiodarone. In the second, definite etiology for hyponatremia which was associated with longstanding polydipsia could not be established. The third had ischemic heart disease and intermittent conversion of his first-degree to second-degree AV block while hyponatremic after diuretics use. Although it is usually difficult to single out hyponatremia as the cause of conduction defects which usually occur in the presence of cardiac disease, potent medications or other electrolyte abnormalities, we suggest that hyponatremia may play a role in the pathogenesis of conduction defects in the diseased heart.