• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 2010

Hyponatremia which is a very common electrolyte abnormality in hospitalized patients is defined as a plasma sodium concentration less than 135 mEq/L. Hyponatremia is generally caused by intravascular volume depletion, excessive salt loss and hypotonic fluid overload. It also can be caused by intravascular osmotic agent. Although most cases are mild and asymptomatic, acute severe hyponatremia can cause severe neurologic symptoms, such as seizures and coma. We report a rare case of severe hyponatremia induced by radiographic contrast agent.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2012

Purpose: The option of selecting isotonic rather than hypotonic fluids for maintenance fluid in children has been advocated by some authors. Pneumonia and CNS infections are frequent clinical settings for acute hyponatremia because of nonosmotic anti-diuretic hormone stimuli in children. We conducted the present study to identify the incidence of hyponatremia in pneumonia and CNS infection of children and to determine the importance of maintenance intravenous fluid therapy regimen and other related factors. Methods: The study included 1,992 patients admitted to the Department of Pediatrics at Pusan National University Children's Hospital between November 2008 and August 2011, who were diagnosed with pneumonia or CNS infections and checked for serum sodium concentration. Their clinical data including laboratory findings were reviewed retrospectively. Results: During the study period, 218 patients were identified to have acute hyponatremia among 1,992 patients. The overall incidence of hyponatremia was 10.9%. The incidence of hyponatremia in encephalitis (37.3%) was highest and the incidence in bacterial meningitis (27.4%), viral meningitis (20.0%), bacterial pneumonia (11.1%), mycoplasma pneumonia (9.2%), and viral pneumonia (6.8%) were in descending order. The mean age was higher in hyponatremic patients than in isonatremic patients. The incidence of hyponatremia was higher in who had 0.18% NaCl in 5% dextrose (D5 0.18% NS) than 0.45% NaCl in 5% dextrose infusion (D5 1/2NS) (9.0% vs. 2.2%). SIADH was identified in 20.5% among hospital acquired hyponatremic patients after adequate evaluation for SIADH. Conclusion: We recommend D5 1/2NS rather than D5 0.18% NS as the maintenance fluid given to children with pneumonia or infectious CNS diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.409-414
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• 2008

Purpose : To assess the prevalence of hyponatremia in epileptic children receiving carbamazepine or oxcarbazpine, we investigate serum sodium changes according to age, serum carbamazepine level, and daily oxcarbazepine dosage, and the prevalence of symptoms of hyponatremia. Methods : We reviewed the clinical data of the 197 children receiving carbamazepine and/or oxcarbazepine with or without antiepileptic therapy. And these were classified into the carbamazepine treated patients (group I), oxcarbazepine treated patients (group II), and carbamzepine or oxcarbazepine with other antiepileptics treated patients (group III). Potentially predictive values for development of hyponatremia were examined in each group: age, plasma level of carbamazepine and daily dosage of oxcarbazepine. We assessed the symptoms of hyponatremia. Results : The overall prevalence of hyponatremia was 20.8% (group I, II and III : 17.9%, 22.6%, and 21.8%, respectively), and the prevalence in groups II and III compared with controls (P<0.03) was significantly lower. The changes of serum sodium levels relation to age were not significantly different. The changes of serum sodium levels by increasing of serum levels of carbamazepine and dosage of oxcarbazepine were statistically significant (P<0.01). Among the 41 patients who had biochemical hyponatremia, the prevalence of hyponatremic symptoms was 17.1%. Conclusion : Hyponatremia may occur relatively more frequently with oxcarbazepine or combined other antiepileptics than carbamzepine therapy only. Age of children receiving carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine was no predictive value for occurrence of hyponatremia. The patients whose serum level were less than 125 mEq/L showed more severe clinical symptoms than any other study groups.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.89-95
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• 2011

Purpose: Hypernatremia most frequently occurs in the immature newborn and be severe in association with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). This study examined the frequency, onset and risk factors of hypernatremia, and the relationship between hypernatremia and IVH in very low birth weight (VLBW; <1,250 g) infants. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 55 VLBW infants admitted between January 2006 and December 2009 to the neonatal intensive care unit of Wonkwang University Hospital and who survived over 7 days. Serum sodium concentration, sodium intake, fluid and weight loss, as suggested risk factors of hypernatremia, and the incidence of IVH were evaluated. The infants were divided into a hypernatremia group (${\geq}$150 mEq/L) and nonhypernatremia group, and were compared. Results: Incidence of hypernatremia in the VLBW infants was 52.7%, and mean starting time of hypernatremia was 2.8${\pm}$1.3 days. There were no differences in the sodium and fluid intake between the two groups. Weight loss at day 3 after birth was significantly higher in the hypernatremia compared to the nonhypernatremia group (P<0.05); thereafter weight loss was non-significantly higher. The incidence of IVH in VLBW infants was 38.2%, and the difference between the two groups was not significant. Conclusion: Hypernatremia occurs commonly in VLBW infants and is most commonly caused by weight loss in the early days after birth. Incidence of IVH is not likely influenced by hypernatremia with marginally elevated sodium concentration.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.49 no.5
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• pp.463-469
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• 2006

Sodium is the major cation of the extracellular fluid and the primary determinant of extracellular osmolality. Therefore, hypernatremia causes water movement out of cells, while hyponatremia causes water movement into cells, resulting in cellular shrinkage and cellular swelling, respectively. Serious central nervous system symptoms may complicate both conditions. Since hypernatremia and hyponatremia are accompanied by abnormalities in water balance, it is essential to understand the mechanisms regulating extracellular osmolality and volume as well as the pathophysiology of hypernatremia and hyponatremia, in order to manage both conditions with swiftness and safety.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.376-379
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• 2009

We report a case of a premature newborn baby who presented with hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis accompanied by severe polyhydramnios in utero. The baby was diagnosed with pseudohypoaldosteronism on the basis of normal 17-hydroxyprogesterone levels, elevated aldosterone, and clinical symptoms. His serum electrolyte levels were corrected with sodium chloride supplementation. Sodium supplementation was reduced gradually and discontinued at 5 months of age. At 5 months, the child was able to maintain normal serum electrolyte levels without oral sodium chloride supplementation, and showed normal physical and neurological development. This case illustrates that pseudohypoaldosteronism must be considered if a newborn infant with an antenatal history of severe polyhydramnios shows excessive salt loss with normal levels of 17-hydroxyprogesterone.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.198-201
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• 2006

Hyponatremia is a dangerous electrolyte disturbance in patients on chemotherapy and may cause sudden death if not detected early. SIADH (syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone) is one of the known causes of hyponatremia in patients undergoing chemotherapy. Few chemotherapeutic agents, however, are reported to cause SIADH. The current study reports that SIADH developed in a 55 year old woman on S-1 ($80\;mg/m^{2}$) and cisplatin ($60\;mg/m^{2}$) chemotherapy for the peritoneal metastasis of gastric cancer. The patient underwent a total gastrectomy, a splenectomy, and a segmental resection of the transverse colon for gastric cancer. She had used thiazide and ${\beta}-blocker$ to treat hyperiension for 12 years. She admitted to our hospital with complaining of general weakness, dysarthria, loss of appetite, and urinary discomfort. The serum level of sodium and potassium were 94 mEq/L and 2.2 mEq/L respectively. The hyponatremia completely resolved uneventfully after 3% saline infusion, which led to normalized electrolyte balance. The patient was discharged on the 13th hospital day.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.54-57
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• 2012

A 6-month-old boy with vesicoureteral reflux exhibited features of transient type 1 pseudohypoaldosteronism (PHA) in the course of urinary tract infection. PHA presents hyponatremia, hyperkalemia, and metabolic acidosis, accompanying with high urinary sodium, low potassium excretion, and high plasma aldosterone concentration. Severe electrolyte disturbance can occur in an infant with vesicoureteral reflux because of secondary PHA. Appropriate treatment of dehydration and sodium supplementation induces rapid improvement of electrolyte imbalance and metabolic acidosis resulting from secondary PHA associated with vesicoureteral reflux.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.364-369
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• 2009

Purpose : Clinical and laboratory findings predict a severe outcome for mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome. This study aimed to define the clinical characteristics of Kawasaki disease (KD) patients with hyponatremia and to determine the factors associated with its development. Methods : Retrospective studies were performed on 114 KD patients who received an initial high-dose intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, single 2 g/kg/dose) within 10 days of fever onset from January 2006 to February 2008. These patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 consisted of 30 (26.3%) patients with hyponatremia, and group 2 consisted of 84 (73.6%) patients without hyponatremia. Clinical manifestations, laboratory results, and echocardiographic findings were compared between the groups. Results : Group 1 patients were more likely to have a coronary artery lesion (53.3% versus 20.2%, P=0.005) and suffered from diarrhea (41.3% versus 14.1%, P=0.007). There was a higher incidence of cardiovascular involvement in group 1 patients, including coronary dilatation (46.6%), valvular regurgitation (13.3%), pericardial effusion (6.7%) and medium-sized aneurysm (6.7%). There were no coronary aneurysms in group 2 patients. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) was significantly higher in patients with hyponatremia ($12.2{\pm}7.79$ mg/dL versus $7.3{\pm}4.7$ mg/dL, P=0.003) and IVIG-resistant patients were more common in group 1 (13.3% versus 3.6%). Conclusion : These results indicate that hyponatremia in KD occurs in patients exhibiting severe inflammation and was significantly associated with the development of coronary disease. Further studies will be necessary to confirm the pathogenic mechanisms of hyponatremia in KD patients.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.314-320
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• 2010

As the nature of triathlons is competition in three successive sports, triathletes experience elevated levels of stress on the body that are absent in single-sport athletic events, and consequently there are more potential medical problems to prepare for. Triathletes can also experience problems such as hypothermia, heat illness, excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation, musculoskeletal injuries and trauma, immunosuppression, and haemolysis. Depending on the potentiality of such above-listed problems occurring in any given race, race organizers will prepare preventative measures and treatments accordingly. Olympic distance is not the only triathlon racing distance. Sprints, which are normally around half the Olympic distance, are common distances, as well as Long (2 km swim, 80 km bike, 20 km run), Ironman (3.8 km swim, 180 km bike, 42 km run), and ultra-distance events varying in length. Races of longer duration normally result in a higher percentage of athletes experiencing the above-mentioned medical problems, as well as inducing additional health risks such as hyponatraemia. Minimizing the occurrences of serious health issues is possible through the following means: carefully preparing for the probable race-day weather conditions; proper management and organization of the race; preparing an extensive water-safety and ground-course safety plan; distributing necessary nutrition along the course; and stressing the importance for athletes to have proper knowledge concerning race nutrition, biomechanical technique, physical preparation, and utilization of safe equipment. While risks of competing in triathlon are many, the instances of such medical problems are not excessive, and the triathlon has a reputation of being a reasonably safe sport as long as athletes with high risk take added precautions.