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ChemPath: Sodium and Fluid Balance

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Total cards: 24•Content version: v4•Public deck•Updated: 8/1/2026

Card preview (24)

#1
Front (Question)

Which hormone controls water balance?

Back (Answer)

ADH (vasopressin)

#2
Front (Question)

Describe how ADH controls water balance.

Back (Answer)

ADH is released from the posterior pituitary gland. It acts on V2 receptors on collecting ducts causing insertion of aquaporin-2 water channels. This causes increased water reabsorption.

#3
Front (Question)

What receptors may ADH (Vasopressin) work on?

Back (Answer)

V1 receptors: • On vascular smooth muscle • Causes vasoconstriction • This occurs at higher concentrations V2 receptors: • On kidneys • Insertion of aquaporin-2 channels on collecting ducts

#4
Front (Question)

What are the two main stimuli for ADH secretion?

Back (Answer)

• Serum osmolality - mediated by hypothalamic osmoreceptors • Blood volume/pressure - mediate by baroreceptors in carotids, atria and aorta

Card back image
#5
Front (Question)

What is the first step in the clinical assessment of a patient with hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

• True hyponatraemia? Serum osmolality *Clinical assessment of volume status • Look at hands • Head and neck • Peripheries

#6
Front (Question)

What are clinical signs of hypervolaemia?

Back (Answer)

• Raised JVP • Peripheral oedema • Bibasal crackles (on chest examination)

#7
Front (Question)

What makes urine sodium uninterpretable?

Back (Answer)

Diuretics - these alter the kidney’s ability to retain salt. Must stop it and check 48 hours after.

#8
Front (Question)

What are causes of hypovolaemia?

Back (Answer)

• Diarrhoea • Vomiting • Diuretics • Salt losing nephropathy

#9
Front (Question)

What are causes of hypervolaemic hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

• Heart failure • Cirrhosis • Nephrotic syndrome

#10
Front (Question)

What are causes of hyponatraemia in a hypovolaemic patient?

Back (Answer)

• Renal: diuretics • Extra-renal: diarrhoea, vomiting

#11
Front (Question)

What the causes of hyponatraemia in a hypervolaemic patient?

Back (Answer)

• Cardiac failure • Cirrhosis • Renal failure

#12
Front (Question)

What are causes of hyponatraemia in a euvolaemic patient?

Back (Answer)

• Hypothyroidism - due to reduction in CO detected by baroreceptors leading to ADH secretion • Adrenal insufficiency - cortisol needed for water excretion, aldosterone needed for sodium and water retention. • SIADH

#13
Front (Question)

What are the causes of SIADH?

Back (Answer)

• CNS pathology • Lung pathology • DRUGS (SSRI, TCA, opiates, PPIs, carbamazepine) • Tumours • Surgery

#14
Front (Question)

What investigations would you order in a patient wih euvolaemic hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

• Hypothyroidism: Thryoid function tests • Adrenal insufficiency: Short synacthen test • SIADH: Plasma and urine osmolality (low plasma & high urine osmolality)

Card back image
#15
Front (Question)

Will osmolality of plasma and urine be high or low in SIADH?

Back (Answer)

Plasma osmolality - LOW Urine osmolality - HIGH (>100)

#16
Front (Question)

What does a diagnosis of SIADH require?

Back (Answer)

• No hypovolaemia • No hypothyroidism • No adrenal insufficiency • Reduced plasma osmolality • Increased urine osmolality (>100)

#17
Front (Question)

How would you manage a hypovolaemic patient with hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

Volume replacement with 0.9% saline - this removes the stimulus for ADH secretion

#18
Front (Question)

How would you manage a hypervolaemic patient with hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

Fluid restriction and treat the underlying cause. Do NOT give saline as the patient will just hold onto the water and exacerbate the hyponatraemia → giving saline won’t address the issue causing ADH secretion if it’s a tumour etc.

#19
Front (Question)

How would you manage a euvolaemic patient with hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

Fluid restriction and treat the underlying cause (same as hypervolaemic patient with hyponatraemia)

#20
Front (Question)

What are clinical symptoms of severe hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

• Reduced GCS • Seizures Seek expert help (treat with hypertonic 3% saline)

#21
Front (Question)

How is severe hyponatraemia managed?

Back (Answer)

Can give boluses of hypertonic 3% saline but only if patient has low GCS or fitting. DO NOT GIVE 3% saline if alert and orientated.

#22
Front (Question)

What is an important point to remember while correcting hyponatraemia?

Back (Answer)

To avoid central pontine myelinolysis, sodium should not be corrected faster than 0.5 mmol/L/hr unless patient is seriously symptomatic (or more than 8-12mmol/L in 24 hours) • Risk of osmotic demyelination (central pontine myelinolysis) • Presents a few days later with quadriplegia, dysarthria, dysphagia, seizures, coma, death

#23
Front (Question)

What drugs are used to treat SIADH?

Back (Answer)

If water restriction is insufficient: • Demeclocycline • Tolvaptan

#24
Front (Question)

How does Demeclocycline work?

Back (Answer)

• Reduces responsiveness of collecting tubule cells to ADH • Need to monitor U&Es (risk of nephrotoxicity)