title: Increased sodium requirement following early postnatal surgical correction of congenital uropathies in infants.
abstract: Serum electrolyte equilibrium and plasma aldosterone concentrations were monitored in 19 infants who had severe obstructive uropathy or grade 5 vesico-ureteral reflux and were undergoing surgical correction in the first 2 months of life. Before surgery high plasma aldosterone levels were observed in 8 patients, but serum sodium and potassium concentrations were normal. Plasma concentrations of aldosterone were elevated in all patients during the week following surgery and 7 patients developed severe hyponatraemia, hyperkalaemia and weight loss despite very high plasma aldosterone concentrations. As a consequence 5 infants were infused with sodium chloride (4 mEq/kg per day) before and for 36 h after surgery; this prevented metabolic imbalance. We conclude that infants undergoing surgical correction of uropathies may require a high sodium intake to maintain electrolyte balance and adequate growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Milan Medical School, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Terzi
authors.forename: B M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Assael
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Claris-Appiani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dell'Agnola
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tadini
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tomaselli
mesh_terms: D000450:Aldosterone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006947:Hyperkalemia / Q000209:etiology; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000601:surgery; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D012964:Sodium / Q000502:physiology*; D014570:Urologic Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000601:surgery*; D014882:Water-Electrolyte Balance
chemical_list: D000450:Aldosterone; D012964:Sodium; D011188:Potassium