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Hyponatraemia in psychiatric patients
Author(s) -
Tallis George A.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1989.tb136397.x
Subject(s) - exacerbation , pathophysiology , medicine , water intoxication , diuresis , hyponatremia , hypertonic saline , urinary system , psychiatry , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , kidney
Four cases of symptomatic hyponatraemia in psychiatric patients are described. All patients exhibited varying degrees of the compulsive intake of water. The initial urinary osmolalities in all cases suggested impaired clearance of free water. This may be related to an exacerbation of the psychotic state. All patients demonstrated a marked diuresis after treatment with a hypertonic (1.8%) saline solution. The underlying pathophysiology is discussed. This clinical syndrome may be associated with significant morbidity and occasional mortality that are related to the rapid development of hyponatraemia.