Urinary retention as a cause of hyponatremia in an elderly man.
Hyponatremia is a common disorder in elderly and can result in changes in cognition, seizures, coma or even respiratory arrest if not recognised and treated. Syndrome of inappropriate anti diuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is the most common cause of hyponatremia in elderly hospitalised patients and in most cases the etiology cannot be determined on routine investigations. We present a 76 year old male with symptomatic hyponatremia who had chronic urinary retention due to a urethral stricture. His sodium levels improved with catheterisation and worsened again after the catheter was removed. This supports the hypothesis that urinary retention and bladder distension can stimulate ADH release from the posterior pituitary, producing a picture similar to SIADH.
Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, 632004 Tamil Nadu India.
Ramit
R
Mahajan
Department of Gastrointestinal Sciences, Christian Medical College, Vellore, 632004 Tamil Nadu India.
Ebby George
EG
Simon
Hyponatremia; SIADH; Urinary retention