Hypernatremia Flashcards
define hypernatremia
- in what populations is it seen in most?
- serum sodium > 145 mmol/L
- hypernatremia is uncommon if one’s thirt response is intact and water is available. is it commonly seen in patients who
- do not experience/respond to thirst
- are unable to get water
what na/water imbalances lead to hypernatremia?
- loss of free water
- gain of sodium
- combination of both
discuss the body’s normal resonse to an increase in plasma osmolality
- increase in plasma osmolality stimulates:
- release of ADH - minimizes water loss
- thirst - increases water intake
how are neuronal cell schrinkage and and cerebral edema related to plasma osmolality?
- unmitigated water loss can lead to neuronal cell shrinkage
- on the other hand, too _rapid water replacemen_t can cause ceerebral edema
what are the risk factors for hypernatremia?
- uncontrolled diabetes (glucosemia can cause osmotic diuresis –> polyuria)
- other underlying polyuria disorder
- diuretic therapies
- circumstances that impair normal water intake:
- mental/physical impairment
- hospitazliation
- nurisng home patients
- infants
define hypervolemic hypernatremia
what circumstances/disease can lead to hypernatremia?
- characterized by Na+ retention (and water retention, but to a lesser degree)
- infusion of hypertonic saline
- salt ingestion
- mineracorticoid excess due to
- conn’s syndrome: excess aldosterone secreted
- cushing’s syndrome: excess cortisol secreted
define euvolemic hypernatremia
what circumstances/disease can lead to euvolemic natremia?
-
LOSS OF WATER and normal Na+. can be caused by
- diabetes insipidus
- hypodipisa: decreased water intake
define hypovolemic hypernatremia
what circumstances/diseases may lead to hypovolemic hypernatremia?
- caused by a loss of Na+ and a greater loss of H20
-
note that the losses here can also cause hypovolemic hyponatremia. it dependens on the ratio of water:Na+ los from teh body
-
non renal losses: urine Na+ < 20
- GI losses- vomitting/diarrhea
- skin losses - burns, ing
-
renal losses: urina Na+ > 20
- loop diuretics
- osmotic diuretics
-
non renal losses: urine Na+ < 20
-
note that the losses here can also cause hypovolemic hyponatremia. it dependens on the ratio of water:Na+ los from teh body
based on serum [Na+], volume status, and U[Na+] outline the diagnosis of the subsets of hypernatremia
hypernatremia = serum [Na+] over 145 mmol/L
presentation of infants/children with hypernatremia
- irritability
- high pitched cry
- lethargy, somnolence, possible coma
patients with hypernatremia due to diabetes insipidis will likely have what symptoms?
- polyuria - excessive urination
- polydypsia - excessive thirst
diagnostic signs seen on physical exam of a hypernatremic patient
- prolonged capillary refill (also seen in hyponatremia)
- orthostatic hypotension (also seen in hyponatremia)
-
skin is:
- doughy due to water loss
- dry mucous membranes
- tachycardia
- sharp reflexes/myodonus
ADH (vasopressin)
- where is it synthesized?
- where is it store?
- what are its primary functions?
- synthesized in hypothalamus
- stored in the vesicles in the posterior pituitary
- main functions:
- retains water by increasing water reabsorption at the collecting ducts
- vasoconstriction
what defines diabetes insipidus (DI)?
what are the two types of diabetes insipidus?
- defined as the passage of large volumes of DILUTE urine (low osmoarlity) due ADH defect (either lack of ADH/irresponsiveness to ADH)
- > 3L / 24 hrs constitutes a large volume
- 800 - 2000 ml (or 8.-2 L) in 24 hrs is considered normal
- > 3L / 24 hrs constitutes a large volume
what symptoms and findings aid the diagnosis
- symptoms:
- polydispsia - excessive thirst (due to hypernatremia detected by osmoreceptors)
- polyuria/nocuturia - due to high urine volume
- polyuria - frequent urination
- nocturia - urination throughout the night
- findings:
- hypernatremia
- high urine volume
- low urine osmolality