title: Cerebral salt wasting syndrome following brain injury in three pediatric patients: suggestions for rapid diagnosis and therapy.
abstract: The association between hyponatremia and intracranial pathology has been well described. When accompanied by natriuresis, hyponatremia has most commonly been attributed to inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. However, there is growing evidence to suggest that many of these patients may actually have cerebral mediated salt losses, a disorder referred to as the cerebral salt wasting syndrome (CSWS). While this syndrome has been reasonably well described in adults, data regarding CSWS in pediatric-aged patients remains sparse. Since fluid management of these disorders is different, it is important that the clinician be able to rapidly differentiate between them. We report three cases of CSWS in acutely brain-injured children and comment on the role that early quantitation of urine volume and urine sodium concentration had in rapidly establishing the correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Health, The University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65212, USA. berkenboschj@health.missouri.edu
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Berkenbosch
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lentz
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Joseph D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000601:surgery*; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007177:Inappropriate ADH Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009318:Natriuresis / Q000502:physiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012462:Saline Solution, Hypertonic; D012964:Sodium