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Spot Urinary Sodium Measurements: the Future Direction of the Treatment and Follow-up of Patients with Heart Failure

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Heart failure is characterized by episodes of congestion with need for hospitalization. The current metrics lack the accuracy to predict and prevent episodes of congestion and to guide diuretic titration to reach euvolemia in case of decompensation. This article aims to provide answers to the role of urinary sodium measurements in acute and chronic heart failure.

Recent Findings

In acute heart failure, urinary sodium concentrations at the moment of admission and after diuretic administration are correlated with short- and long-term outcome. As this is a reflection of the degree of sodium retention, it can be used as a guide in the diuretic titration. In chronic heart failure, it might be used to predict and consequently prevent episodes of decompensation.

Summary

Urinary sodium measurements hold great promises to be a novel diagnostic and therapeutic parameter in patients with acute and chronic heart failure. However, more research is needed.

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Data Availability

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hasselt University, Universiteitslaan 1, 3500, Hasselt, Belgium

    Evelyne Meekers & Wilfried Mullens

  2. Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Schiepse Bos 6, 3600, Genk, Belgium

    Evelyne Meekers & Wilfried Mullens

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  1. Evelyne Meekers
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Correspondence to Evelyne Meekers.

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Meekers, E., Mullens, W. Spot Urinary Sodium Measurements: the Future Direction of the Treatment and Follow-up of Patients with Heart Failure. Curr Heart Fail Rep 20, 88–100 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11897-023-00591-4

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