Electrolyte Flashcards
Definition of hyponatremia
“Plasma Na+ concentration <135mM”
Most common disorder associated with hyponatremia
“Increased AVP and/or renal sensitivity to AVP with free water intake”
Three types of hyponatremia
“Hypovolemic
Cause of hypovolemic hyponatremia
“Gastrointestinal losses
Diagnostic indicator of hypovolemic hyponatremia
“Urine Na < 20mM”
Most frequent cause of euvolemic hyponatremia
“SIADH (Syndrome of Inappropriate ADH secretion)”
Common causes of SIADH
“Malignancies
Classic syndrome associated with low solute intake causing hyponatremia
“Beer potomania”
Key laboratory test for differentiating causes of hyponatremia
“Serum osmolality”
Complication of rapid correction of hyponatremia
“Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS)”
Key clinical feature of acute hyponatremic encephalopathy
“Cerebral edema leading to seizures and respiratory failure”
First-line treatment for severe symptomatic hyponatremia
“Hypertonic 3% saline”
Rate of safe correction of chronic hyponatremia
“<8–10 mM in 24h
Definition of hypernatremia
“Plasma Na+ concentration >145mM”
Primary cause of hypernatremia
“Loss of water in excess of sodium”
Common non-renal cause of hypernatremia
“Fever
Common renal cause of hypernatremia
“Diabetes Insipidus (Central or Nephrogenic)”
Classic electrolyte abnormality in Nephrogenic DI
“Inability to concentrate urine despite high AVP”
Drug causing Nephrogenic DI
“Lithium”
First-line treatment for central DI
“Desmopressin (DDAVP)”
Major complication of rapid correction of hypernatremia
“Cerebral edema”
Definition of hypokalemia
“Serum K+ < 3.5mEq/L”
Common cause of hypokalemia
“Diuretics
