[Incidence of hyponatremia and its causes in neurological patients].
BACKGROUND
Hyponatremia is considered the most frequent electrolyte disorder found in hospitalized patients and seems to be a prognostic factor during hospitalization.


METHODS
A prospective observational study was carried out in consecutive neurological patients admitted to our hospital over a 3-month period. Blood and urinary ionogram and osmolality were determined at entry and 3-5 days after admission in all patients with hyponatremia.


RESULTS
Of the 130 patients admitted, 19 (14.6%) had hyponatremia. The causes of hyponatremia were as follows: inappropriate fluid replacement in 4 patients (21%), antihypertensive drugs in 4 (21%), syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in 4 (21%), cerebral salt wasting syndrome in 2 (10%), and edematous status caused by liver disease in one and digestive loss in one (5%) each. Mortality was one (5%) and 0 (0%) among patients with and without hyponatremia, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Hyponatremia is common in hospitalized neurological patients and can be misdiagnosed as a worsening of the main illness.
Cerda-Esteve
Mariana
M
Servicio de Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Universitario Arnau de Vilanova, Lleida, Spain. mariaina.cerda@gmail.com
Ruiz-González
Agustín
A
Gudelis
Mindaugas
M
Goday
Albert
A
Trujillano
Javier
J
Cuadrado
Elisa
E
Cano
Juan Francisco
JF
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D011446:Prospective Studies