title: Circulating sodium in acute meningitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In acute meningitis hyponatremia is common and traditionally attributed exclusively to inappropriate water retention. However, the exact mechanisms underlying hyponatremia are unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  The files of 300 pediatric patients with acute bacterial (n = 190) or aseptic (n = 110) meningitides were retrospectively analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The plasma sodium level ranged from 122 to 148 mmol/l and was low (<133 mmol/l) in 97 patients. Fluid volume contraction was significantly more pronounced in hyponatremia (median 6.0. 10(-2)) than in normonatremia (median 2.0. 10(-2)). The fractional sodium excretion was less than 1.00. 10(-2) in the 26 hyponatremic children with this measurement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In acute meningitis hyponatremia is not exclusively brought about by inappropriate water retention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: von Vigier
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Stoffel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meregalli
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Truttmann
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bianchetti
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000209:etiology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008581:Meningitis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008582:Meningitis, Aseptic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D012964:Sodium