Articles on Medical Diseases and Conditions

Entries for the ‘Serum Electrolytes and Protein-Calorie Malnutrition’ Category

Inappropriate ADH Syndrome (IADH Syndrome)

This is another syndrome involving AVP (ADH) that is now well recognized. It results from water retention due to secretion of AVP (ADH) when AVP (ADH) would not ordinarily be secreted. The criteria for IADH syndrome include (1) hyponatremia, (2) continued renal excretion of sodium despite hyponatremia, (3) serum hypoosmolality, (4) urine osmolality that shows […]

Disorders of Arginine Vasopressin (Antidiuretic Hormone) Secretion

Arginine Vasopressin (AVP, also called vasopressin; originally known as antidiuretic hormone or ADH) has been mentioned as one regulator of plasma volume by its ability to concentrate urine via its action on renal distal tubule water reabsorption. It is produced by the posterior pituitary under the influence of centers in the anterior hypothalamus. Several factors […]

Dilutional Syndromes

Cirrhosis is frequently associated with hyponatremia and hypokalemia, either separately or concurrently. There are a variety of etiologies: ascitic fluid sequestration; attempts at diuresis, often superimposed on poor diet or sodium restriction; paracentesis therapy; and hemodilution. Electrolyte abnormalities are more likely to appear when ascites is present and are more severe if azotemia complicates liver […]

Effects of Adrenal Cortex Dysfunction

Certain adrenal cortex hormones control sodium retention and potassium excretion. Aldosterone is the most powerful of these hormones, but cortisone and hydrocortisone also have some effect. In primary Addison’s disease there are variable degrees of adrenal cortex destruction. This results in deficiency of both aldosterone and cortisol, thereby severely decreasing normal salt-retaining hormone influence on […]

Hyponatremic Depletional Syndromes

In protracted and severe vomiting, as occurs with pyloric obstruction or stenosis, gastric fluid is lost in large amounts and a hypochloremic (acid-losing) alkalosis develops. Gastric contents have a relatively low sodium content and water loss relatively exceeds electrolyte loss. Despite relatively low electrolyte content, significant quantities of electrolytes are lost with the fluid, leading […]

Hyponatremia. Iatrogenic Sources of Hyponatremia

Diuretic therapy and administration of IV hypotonic fluids (dextrose in water or half-normal saline) form very important and frequent etiologies for hyponatremia, either as the sole agent or superimposed on some condition predisposing to hyponatremia. In several studies of patients with hyponatremia, diuretic use was considered to be the major contributing factor or sole etiology […]

Serum Sodium Abnormalities

The most frequent electrolyte abnormalities, both clinically and as reflected in abnormal laboratory values, involve sodium. This is true because sodium is the most important cation of the body, both from a quantitative standpoint and because of its influence in maintaining electric neutrality. The most common causes of low or high serum sodium values are […]