Hyponatremia and seizures in an ultradistance triathlete

Hyponatremia is being increasingly recognized as a complication of particip ation in ultra-endurance sports. Reported is the case of an Ironman triathl ete who collapsed at the end of the race, having gained 5% in body weight. His serum sodium concentration at the finish was 116 mmol/L. After an Inten sive Care Unit course complicated by recurrent seizures, he eventually made a complete neurologic recovery. The pathogenesis of hyponatremia and its m anagement in such cases is discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.