Fluid And Electrolyte Balance Flashcards
What is the most abundant cation in the ECF?
Sodium
How is sodium measured?
Sodium is typically measured using an ion-selective electrode (ISE) method, which measures the activity of sodium ions in a patient’s blood sample.
This method is fast, accurate, and reliable, making it a common and widely used test in clinical laboratories.
What does the prefix hypo- mean?
Low
What does the prefix hyper- mean?
High
What are causes of hyponatraemia? (3)
1.Increased sodium loss
⬇️ Aldosterone production, diuretics or nephropathy in renal disorders
Low K+
2.Increased water retention
Dilution of Na+
⬇️ Plasma proteins
3.Water imbalance
SIADH
What are causes of hypernatraemia?
1. Excess water loss
Not usually caused by an excess of Na+ but relative deficit of water so often coincides with dehydration.
2. Decreased water intake
Older persons 👵
3.Increased intake or retention
Hyperaldosteronism
Measurement of urine required to evaluate the causes of hyponatraemia.
Severity:
Diabetes insipidus < Osmotic diuresis < loss of thirst
Describe causes of hypokalaemia
1. GI loss
Vomiting
2. Renal Loss
Nephritis
3. Cellular shift
Alkalosis
4. Decreased intake
Causes of hyperkalaemia
1. Decreased renal excretion
Acute or chronic renal failure
2. Cellular shift
Acidosis
3. Increased intake
Oral orIV replacement therapy
4. Artifactual
Sample haemolysis
Describe the features of pseudohyperkalaemia
Pseudohyperkalaemia is a false elevation of potassium levels that can occur due to certain pre-analytical factors, such as prolonged tourniquet application during blood collection or high-speed centrifugation.
Pseudohyperkalaemia is not a true indication of elevated potassium levels in the body and should be confirmed using other tests.
Symptoms of severe hypokalaemia
Muscle weakness; paralysis; Heart rhythm abnormalities
Name two pathological processes involving electrolytes
Volume and osmotic regulation (Na+, Cl- and K+)
Myocardium rhythm and contractility (K+, Mg2+)
__________ is the number of solute particles in 1 kg of solvent.
Osmolality
__________ is the concentration of solutes per litre of solvent - can be inaccurate due to temp and pressure.
Osmolarity
__________ is the difference between the measured __________ and the calculated _________. Due to differences in the way blood solutes are measured and their calculation methods in the laboratory.
Osmolar gap
Osmolality
Osmolarity
What is the controller of Osmolality?
Arginine vasopressin hormone (AVH) (ADH)
Where is ADH released from?
Posterior pituitary
Define Polydipsia
The feeling of extreme thirstiness.
ADH release is stimulated by (4)
⬆️Plasma Osmolality
⬇️Blood volume
⬇️BP
Stress
Where is ADH produced?
Hypothalamus
What is the primary function of ADH?
Primary function is ↓water loss in the kidneys which reduces the concentration of electrolytes.
High ADH conc means
•↑ H2O permeability in distal tubules and collecting ducts of the kidney.
•↑ H2O reabsorption, ↓ H2O excretion.
•Establishes a negative feedback loop.
Define hypovolemia
Loss of water & Na+ without replacement.
Total body water declines but osmolarity remains normal.
Haemorrhage, sever burns, vomiting, diarrhoea.