Browse Guides  internal medicine  endocrine and metabolic disorders

Hyponatraemia

Prevalence
Causes
Clinical features
Investigations
Therapy
Prognosis
Therapy

Give 0.9% saline - avoid giving fluid too rapidly. c
Aim to correct sodium levels at 0.5 mmol/l per hour with a maximum rise of 12 mmol in 24 hours. d  

Why?

  • Patients with severe hyponatraemia who develop a persistent neurological deficit have a more rapid rate of correction than control. c

Expiry date: September 2005
Levels of Evidence used in grading these guides

Authors   T   Ringrose , CM   Ball
Reviewer   J V   Bonventre
CAT Writers   T   Ringrose , CM   Ball