Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

Complications

By Mayo Clinic staff

In chronic hyponatremia, sodium levels drop gradually over several days or weeks — and symptoms and complications are typically moderate.

In acute hyponatremia, sodium levels drop rapidly — resulting in potentially dangerous effects, such as rapid brain swelling, which can result in coma and death.

Premenopausal women appear to be at the greatest risk of hyponatremia-related brain damage. Researchers believe this is related to the effect of women's sex hormones on the body's ability to balance sodium levels.

References
  1. Rose BD. Diagnosis of hyponatremia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
  2. Gibbs MA, et al. Electrolyte disturbances. In: Marx JA, et al., eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2006. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-5/845288330/1365/382.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-02845-4..50128-1_6348. Accessed May 26, 2009.
  3. Rose BD. Causes of hyponatremia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
  4. Rose BD. Treatment of hyponatremia. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
  5. Weinberg MS, et al. Disorders of sodium homeostasis. In: Ferri FF. Practical Guide to the Care of the Medical Patient. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-3/0/1417/921.html?tocnode=52510185&fromURL=921.html. Accessed May 26, 2009.
  6. Drezner JA, et al. Environmental influences. In: Rakel RE. Textbook of Family Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-6/845288600/1481/481.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2467-5..50043-9--cesec21_2481. Accessed May 26, 2009.
  7. Ferrante MA, et al. Endogenous metabolic disorders. In: Goetz GD. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/139569939-7/845289096/1488/324.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3618-0..10038-4_2905. Accessed May 26, 2009.
  8. Campbell GA. The agony of ecstasy: MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine) and the kidney. Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2008;3:1852.

DS00974

July 14, 2009

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger