Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion Clinical Presentation

  • Author: Christie P Thomas, MBBS, FRCP, FASN, FAHA; Chief Editor: Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN   more...
 
Updated: Jan 3, 2012
 

History

Hyponatremia is usually detected by laboratory testing.

Depending on the magnitude and rate of development, hyponatremia may or may not cause symptoms. In general, slowly progressive hyponatremia is associated with fewer symptoms than is a rapid drop of serum Na+ to the same value. Patients with moderate, chronic hyponatremia may have decreased reaction times, cognitive slowing, and ataxia resulting in frequent falls.[12, 14]

Signs and symptoms of acute hyponatremia do not precisely correlate with the severity or the acuity of the hyponatremia. Some patients with profound hyponatremia may be relatively asymptomatic. Anorexia, nausea, and malaise are early symptoms and may be seen when the serum Na+ level is less than 125 mEq/L. A further decrease in the serum Na+ level can lead to headache, muscle cramps, irritability, drowsiness, confusion, weakness, seizures, and coma. These occur as osmotic fluid shifts result in cerebral edema and increased intracranial pressure.

Important considerations related to the history are symptoms that reflect the cause of SIADH. Patients may have symptoms that suggest increased secretion of ADH, such as chronic pain, symptoms from CNS or pulmonary tumors (eg, hemoptysis, chronic headaches), or head injury, and drug use. It is important to determine if the patient has had excessive fluid intake because of inappropriate thirst or psychogenic polydipsia or because hypotonic fluids were administered in a healthcare setting. The history may also give important information about the chronicity of the condition, which may, in turn, influence the rate of correction of hyponatremia.

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Physical Examination

After the identification of hyponatremia, the approach to the patient depends on the clinically assessed volume status. In SIADH, the patient is typically euvolemic and normotensive. Peripheral and pulmonary edema, dry mucous membranes, reduced skin turgor, and orthostatic hypotension are usually absent. Edema in a hyponatremic patient warrants consideration of another hyponatremic state, such as congestive heart failure (CHF) or cirrhosis, or chronic kidney disease.

Prominent physical examination findings may be seen only in severe or rapid-onset hyponatremia and can include confusion, disorientation, delirium, generalized muscle weakness, myoclonus, tremor, asterixis, hyporeflexia, ataxia, dysarthria, Cheyne-Stokes respiration, pathologic reflexes, generalized seizures, and coma.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Christie P Thomas, MBBS, FRCP, FASN, FAHA  Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Medical Director, Kidney and Kidney/Pancreas Transplant Program, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

Christie P Thomas, MBBS, FRCP, FASN, FAHA is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Heart Association, American Society of Nephrology, and Royal College of Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Mony Fraer, MD, FACP, FASN  Assistant Professor, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics; Staff Physician, Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN  Professor of Medicine, Section of Nephrology-Hypertension, Tulane University School of Medicine; Chief, Medicine Service, Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System

Vecihi Batuman, MD, FACP, FASN is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Society of Hypertension, American Society of Nephrology, and International Society of Nephrology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Howard A Bessen, MD Professor of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine; Program Director, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Howard A Bessen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Keenan Bora, MD Fellow, Medical Toxicology, Detroit Medical Center; Attending Physician, Medical Center Emergency Services, Detroit

Keenan Bora, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Meher Chaudhry, MD Chief Resident, Department of Emergency Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital, University Health Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sonali Deshmukh, MBBS Consulting Staff, Omaha Nephrology, Nebraska

Sonali Deshmukh, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Nephrology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

R obert J Ferry Jr, MD Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital; Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Brigade Surgeon, 36th Sustainment Brigade, U.S. Army; Adjunct Professor, Pediatric Surgery Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Robert J Ferry Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Texas Pediatric Society

Disclosure: Nutropin Speakers Bureau Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Genotropin Speakers Bureau Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Eli Lilly & Co. Grant/research funds Investigator; MacroGenics, Inc. Grant/research funds Investigator; Ipsen, S.A. (formerly Tercica, Inc.) Grant/research funds Investigator; NovoNordisk SA Grant/research funds Investigator; Diamyd Investigator

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Arkansas College of Medicine and Arkansas Children's Hospital

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Southern Medical Association, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleanor Lederer, MD Professor of Medicine, Chief, Nephrology Division, Director, Nephrology Training Program, Director, Metabolic Stone Clinic, Kidney Disease Program, University of Louisville School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Louisville Veterans Affairs Hospital

Eleanor Lederer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Transplantation, International Society of Nephrology, Kentucky Medical Association, National Kidney Foundation, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Dept of Veterans Affairs Grant/research funds Research

Lynne Lipton Levitsky, MD Chief, Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Lynne Lipton Levitsky, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Pfizer Grant/research funds P.I.; Tercica Grant/research funds Other; Eli Lily Grant/research funds PI; NovoNordisk Grant/research funds PI

Chike Magnus Nzerue, MD Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Vice-Chairman of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College

Chike Magnus Nzerue, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Society of Nephrology, and National Kidney Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jose F Pascual-y-Baralt, MD Chief, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, San Antonio Military Pediatric Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Campus

Jose F Pascual-y-Baralt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and International Society of Nephrology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alexandr Rafailov, MD Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York Downstate/Kings County Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Arlan L Rosenbloom, MD Adjunct Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, University of Florida; Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology

Arlan L Rosenbloom, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Epidemiology, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Florida Pediatric Society, Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Erik D Schraga, MD Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mills-Peninsula Emergency Medical Associates; Consulting Staff, Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard H Sinert, DO Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Research Director, State University of New York College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center

Richard H Sinert, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

Howard A Bessen, MD Professor of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, UCLA School of Medicine; Program Director, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center

Howard A Bessen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Emergency Physicians

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Keenan Bora, MD Fellow, Medical Toxicology, Detroit Medical Center; Attending Physician, Medical Center Emergency Services, Detroit

Keenan Bora, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Clinical Toxicology, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Medical Toxicology, and American Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Meher Chaudhry, MD Chief Resident, Department of Emergency Medicine, Detroit Receiving Hospital, University Health Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Sonali Deshmukh, MBBS Consulting Staff, Omaha Nephrology, Nebraska

Sonali Deshmukh, MBBS is a member of the following medical societies: American Society of Nephrology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

R obert J Ferry Jr, MD Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Le Bonheur Children's Hospital; Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center at Memphis; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Brigade Surgeon, 36th Sustainment Brigade, U.S. Army; Adjunct Professor, Pediatric Surgery Department, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Robert J Ferry Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Medical Association, Endocrine Society, Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Texas Pediatric Society

Disclosure: Nutropin Speakers Bureau Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Genotropin Speakers Bureau Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Eli Lilly & Co. Grant/research funds Investigator; MacroGenics, Inc. Grant/research funds Investigator; Ipsen, S.A. (formerly Tercica, Inc.) Grant/research funds Investigator; NovoNordisk SA Grant/research funds Investigator; Diamyd Investigator

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Arkansas College of Medicine and Arkansas Children's Hospital

Stephen Kemp, MD, PhD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Southern Medical Association, and Southern Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleanor Lederer, MD Professor of Medicine, Chief, Nephrology Division, Director, Nephrology Training Program, Director, Metabolic Stone Clinic, Kidney Disease Program, University of Louisville School of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Louisville Veterans Affairs Hospital

Eleanor Lederer, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Federation for Medical Research, American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, American Society for Bone and Mineral Research, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Transplantation, International Society of Nephrology, Kentucky Medical Association, National Kidney Foundation, and Phi Beta Kappa

Disclosure: Dept of Veterans Affairs Grant/research funds Research

Lynne Lipton Levitsky, MD Chief, Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital; Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School

Lynne Lipton Levitsky, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Diabetes Association, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Pfizer Grant/research funds P.I.; Tercica Grant/research funds Other; Eli Lily Grant/research funds PI; NovoNordisk Grant/research funds PI

Chike Magnus Nzerue, MD Associate Dean for Clinical Affairs, Vice-Chairman of Internal Medicine, Meharry Medical College

Chike Magnus Nzerue, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American College of Physicians-American Society of Internal Medicine, American Society of Nephrology, and National Kidney Foundation

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Jose F Pascual-y-Baralt, MD Chief, Division of Pediatric Nephrology, San Antonio Military Pediatric Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Health Science Campus

Jose F Pascual-y-Baralt, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society of Nephrology, American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, Association of Military Surgeons of the US, and International Society of Nephrology

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Alexandr Rafailov, MD Staff Physician, Department of Emergency Medicine, State University of New York Downstate/Kings County Hospital

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Arlan L Rosenbloom, MD Adjunct Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of Pediatrics, University of Florida; Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Fellow of the American College of Epidemiology

Arlan L Rosenbloom, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Epidemiology, American Pediatric Society, Endocrine Society, Florida Pediatric Society, Lawson-Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Erik D Schraga, MD Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mills-Peninsula Emergency Medical Associates; Consulting Staff, Permanente Medical Group, Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara Medical Center

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Richard H Sinert, DO Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Research Director, State University of New York College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Department of Emergency Medicine, Kings County Hospital Center

Richard H Sinert, DO is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: eMedicine Salary Employment

Mary L Windle, PharmD Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

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