Hyponatremia

Diagnosing and Treating Hyponatremia: Key Points

When diagnosing hyponatremia, it is important to assess for signs and symptoms and determine if it is acute or chronic. Acute hyponatremia refers to a drop in sodium within 48 hours. Confirming if it is true hyponatremia involves evaluating urine osmolality and urine electrolytes. Differentiating between true hyponatremia and pseudo-hyponatremia is crucial. True hyponatremia is hypo-osmolar, while pseudo-hyponatremia occurs due to measurement errors caused by high lipids or proteins. Treatment involves identifying the underlying cause and setting a target sodium level. In severe cases or when the etiology is unclear, a DDAVP clamp with hypertonic saline can be used to prevent overcorrection.