title: [Hyponatremia: basic concepts and practical approach].
abstract: Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte imbalance in hospitalized patients. It is associated with several unfavorable endpoints such as: the need for intensive care, longer hospital stay, higher hospitalization costs, discharge to long-term care facilities, and mortality. It is still not clear if there is a direct causal relationship or if hyponatremia is simply a marker of disease severity. Nevertheless, it is quite clear that improper management of a hyponatremic patient may result in severe neurologic damage or death. This paper addresses the basic pathophysiologic concepts about hyponatremia followed by a practical approach to its diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina e Apoio Diagnóstico, Faculdade de Medicina da Bahia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Bahia, Brasil. paulonrocha@ufba. br
authors.forename: Paulo Novis
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007010:Hyponatremia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy