Hyponatremia and its treatment in the hospitalized patient

Abstract

Analysis of 136 cases of hyponatremia observed in this hospital shows that 50 per cent occurred in patients over 60 years old. Fluid evaluation showed that 40 per cent had excess fluids, 48 per cent normal hydration, and 12 per cent were dehydrated. Approximately 58 per cent were asymptomatic. In about half of the symptomatic group, a loss of salt had occurred and in half an excess of water. In approximately 10 per cent of the cases, the low serum sodium value proved to be a laboratory error. Effective therapy included hypertonic salt solution, 0.9% salt solution, oral sodium chloride and dialysis. Emphasis was placed on the need for complete evaluation of the patient with suspected hyponatremia and restriction of therapy to those patients with definite symptoms and with demonstrated loss of salt or water excess.