Correction of hyponatremia by urea in a patient with heart failure.
A 84 year-old woman presenting with evolving breast cancer was admitted in the intensive care unit for malaise. Profound hyponatremia in the context of symptomatic heart failure was documented. Intravenous infusion of NaCl 0.9% was unsuccessful. Treatment with oral urea was begun and sodium level returned to nearly normal values 5 days later.
Berghmans
T
T
Département de Soins Intensifs et Oncologie Thoracique, Institut Jules Bordet, Bruxelles, Belgique. thierry.berghmans@bordet.be
Meert
A
A
Sculier
J P
JP
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000628:therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D014508:Urea / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014508:Urea