IATROGENIC ACUTE HYPONATREMIA IN A COLLEGE ATHLETE

Hyponatraemia is one of the most common electrolyte abnormalities, lea ding to significant morbidity and mortality. In the most basic sense, hyponatraemia can be due to sodium loss or fluid excess. The extracell ular fluid status is used to clinically divide hyponatraemia into thre e categories to help to determine both the cause and treatment require d. Hyponatraemic patients can be categorised on the basis of their flu id status as hypovolaemic, euvolaemic, or hypervolaemic. Another disti nction to make in evaluating hyponatraemia is whether the onset was ac ute or chronic in nature. The case presented here is iatrogenic acute hypervolaemic hyponatraemia in a college athlete. The patient presente d in respiratory distress with an altered mental status after the admi nistration of hypotonic fluids for treatment of muscle cramps. Treatme nt included intubation, water restriction, and furosemide, to which he responded favourably. Hyponatraemia should be in the differential dia gnosis for patients presenting after intravenous fluid administration.