General Information
Sodium (Na +) Is the main cation of the extracellular space, found in all body fluids (blood plasma, gastric, pancreatic juice, bile, intestinal juice, sweat, cerebrospinal fluid, etc.) in ionized state. Relatively large amounts of sodium are found in cartilage and slightly less in bones and make up 15-30% of the total amount of sodium in the body.
When should we take the test?
Sodium is one of the important indicators of water-electrolyte and acid-base balance.
- Assessing the condition when selecting treatment tactics for dehydration and monitoring the condition of patients on infusion therapy;
- Patients with impaired consciousness, behavior, and signs of CNS excessive excitability;
- Pathological conditions accompanied by edema;
- Conditions associated with deficiency or excess of mineralocorticoids;
- Pathology of the cardiovascular system;
- Impaired renal function.
Possible interpretation of the results
Increase in sodium concentration:
- Hypertensive dehydration syndrome (increased sweating, diarrhea, vomiting, overdose of diuretics, fever, prolonged shortness of breath);
- Insufficient water intake;
- Excessive intake of sodium salts;
- Impaired renal sodium excretion (nephrogenic diabetes mellitus, primary and secondary hyperaldosteronism, Itzenko-Cushing syndrome);
- Certain medications (ACTH, anabolic steroids, androgens, corticosteroids, estrogens, methyldopa, oral contraceptives, sodium bicarbonate).
Reduction of sodium concentration:
1. Reduction of extracellular fluid volume and total sodium:
- Diuretics;
- Loss of salt;
- Addison's disease;
- Glucocorticoid deficiency;
- Osmotic diuresis (diabetes mellitus, condition after urinary tract obstruction);
- Renal tubular acidosis, metabolic alkalosis;
- Extrarenal loss of Na + and water (pancreatitis, peritonitis, intestinal obstruction, heartburn, severe diarrhea, vomiting, sweating);
- Is ketonic.
2. Moderately elevated extracellular fluid volume and normal total sodium levels:
- Syndrome of inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone;
- Hypothyroidism;
- Psychogenic polydipsia;
- Pain, stress, emotions;
- Postoperative conditions (5% of patients);
- Medications
3. Increased extracellular fluid volume and increased total sodium levels. (Edema-related diseases):
- Congestive heart failure;
- Nephrotic syndrome, renal failure;
- cirrhosis of the liver;
- Cachexia;
- Hypoproteinemia.