E CMAJ M Review C Management of hyponatremia Jennifer Ji Young Lee BHSc, Kajiru Kilonzo MD, Amy Nistico MD, Karen Yeates MD yponatremia, defined as a decrease in How does the type of Competing interests: serum sodium below 136 mmol/L, is a Karen Yeates has received hyponatremia affect treatment? honoraria for a career H common occurrence in both inpatients mentorship talk from and outpatients and can be found in up to 15% Amgen and for a continuing of the general hospital populations. 1,2 Acute Although there are many approaches to the man - medical education event from Otsuka hyponatremia (duration < 48 h) and its manage - agement of hyponatremia, one of the most com - Pharmaceuticals. No other ment can be a cause of major morbidity and mon approaches used by nonexpert clinicians competing interests were mortality among patients in hospital. 3 Chronic begins with an assessment of extracellular fluid declared. hyponatremia (duration > 48 h), which is typi - (ECF) volume status. Because diabetes mellitus This article has been peer cally seen among older ( ≥ 65 yr) outpatients, is becoming more prevalent in the adult popula - reviewed. also contributes to morbidity because it is often tion, clinicians should be mindful of ruling out Correspondence to: unrecognized. 3,4 Typically, correction of serum hyperosmolar hyponatremia caused by hyper - Karen Yeates, sodium concentration in patients with acute glycemia as a potential cause of hyponatremia.
[email protected] hyponatremia should occur at a more rapid rate The clinical history and physical examination CMAJ 2014. DOI:10.1503 than in patients with chronic hyponatremia provide important diagnostic clues that help to /cmaj.120887 because the symptoms are usually more severe classify the cause of hyponatremia as hypov - when serum sodium rapidly decreases over a olemic, euvolemic or hypervolemic.