[Hyponatremic syndrome]

Sodium, the most important extracellular fluid electrolyte, is the focus of several homeostatic mechanisms that regulate fluid and electrolyte balance. Hyponatremia is a common electrolyte abnormality caused by an actual sodium deficiency or extracellular compartment fluid excess. Clinical symptoms are related with acuity and speed with which this abnormality is established. The symptoms are mainly neurological and neuromuscular disorders (headache, confusion, stupor, seizures, coma) due to brain cells edema. Hyponatremia due to sodium deficiency is caused by sodium loss from kidney (nephritis, diuretics, mineralocorticoid deficiency) and / or extrarenal (vomiting, diarrhea, burns). Hyponatremia due to water excess seems to be the most common and it is attributable to cirrhosis, nephrotic syndrome, heart failure, infusion 5% glucose solutions and drugs that stimulate ADH secretion. It was recently highlighted the role of inflammation and IL-6 in the non-osmotic ADH release. Hyponatremia is considered also marker of phlogosis. Acute (<48 h) and severe (<125 mEq/ L) hyponatremia is a medical emergency that requires prompt correction. Patients with chronic hyponatremia have a high risk of osmotic demyelination syndrome if rapid correction of the plasmatic sodium occurs. In combination with conventional therapy, a new class of drugs, vasopressin receptors antagonists (AVP-R antagonists) would be able to increase the excretion of electrolyte-free water and the serum sodium concentration.