Pathophysiology of sodium disorders in children

Abstract

Dysnatremia is among the most common electrolyte disorders in clinical medicine and its improper management can have serious consequences associated with increased morbidity and mortality of patients. The aim of this study is to update the pathophysiology of dysnatremia and review some simple clinical and laboratory tools, easy to interpret, that allow us to make a quick and simple approach. Dysnatremia involves water balance disorders. Water balance is directly related to osmoregulation. There are mechanisms to maintain plasma osmolality control; which are triggered by 1-2% changes. Hypothalamic osmoreceptors detect changes in plasma osmolality, regulating the secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), which travels to the kidneys resulting in more water being reabsorbed into the blood; therefore, the kidney is the main regulator of water balance. When a patient is suffering dysnatremia, it is important to assess how his ADH-renal axis is working. There are causes of this condition easy to identify, however, to differentiate a syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion from cerebral salt-wasting syndrome is often more difficult. In the case of hypernatremia, to suspect insipidus diabetes and to differentiate its either central or nephrogenic origin is essential for its management. In conclusion, dysnatremia management requires pathophysiologic knowledge of its development in order to make an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, avoiding errors that may endanger the health of our patients.