Endocrine Abstracts

Hyponatraemia is a common biochemical abnormality associated with significant mortality. However, adequate investigation and accurate diagnosis are frequently lacking. We have evaluated the assessment and management of severe hyponatraemia in a large teaching hospital. Inpatients with a plasma sodium (pNa) <125mmol/L were identified prospectively by laboratory database, over a 6 month period. Notes were examined and data extracted. Data was also retrospectively reviewed by ...

Hyponatraemia is one of the commonest biochemical abnormalities in hospitalised patients, and is generally associated with a poor outcome. Large controlled studies of severely hyponatraemic patients are however unusual. From our biochemistry laboratory database we prospectively collected all patients with a sodium (Na) <125 mmol/L over a 6 month period (n=104).For each hyponatraemic case, a normotraemic control was chosen as the next sequential patient in time on the labora...