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Correction of hyponatremia and osmotic demyelinating syndrome: have we neglected to think intracellularly?

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Abstract

Background

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (ODS) is a complication generally associated with overly rapid correction of hyponatremia. Traditionally, nephrologists have been trained to focus solely on limiting the correction rate. However, there is accumulating evidence to suggest that the prevention of ODS is beyond achieving slow correction rates.

Methods

We (1) reviewed the literature for glial intracellular protective alterations during hyperosmolar stress, a state presumed equivalent to the rapid correction of hyponatremia, and (2) analyzed all available hyponatremia-associated ODS cases from PubMed for possible contributing factors including correction rates and concurrent metabolic disturbances involving hypokalemia, hypophosphatemia, hypomagnesemia, and/or hypoglycemia.

Results

In response to acute hyperosmolar stress, glial cells undergo immediate extracellular free water shift, followed by active intracellular Na+, K+ and amino acid uptake, and eventual idiogenic osmoles synthesis. At minimum, protective mechanisms require K+, Mg2+, phosphate, amino acids, and glucose. There were 158 cases of hyponatremia-associated ODS where both correction rates and other metabolic factors were documented. Compared with the rapid correction group (>0.5 mmol/L/h), the slow correction group (≤0.5 mmol/L/h) had a greater number of cases with concurrent hypokalemia (49.4 vs. 33.3 %, p = 0.04), and a greater number of cases with any concurrent metabolic derangements (55.8 vs. 38.3 %, p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Glial cell minimizes volume changes and injury in response to hyperosmolar stress via mobilization and/or utilization of various electrolytes and metabolic factors. The prevention of ODS likely requires both minimization of correction rate and optimization of intracellular response during the correction phase when a sufficient supply of various factors is necessary.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Greater Los Angeles Veterans Administration, Sepulveda, CA, 91343, USA

    Phuong-Mai T. Pham

  2. Veterans Affairs Central California Health Care System, Fresno, CA, 93703, USA

    Phuong-Anh T. Pham

  3. South Texas Veterans Health Care System and University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA

    Son V. Pham

  4. Penn State Worthington Scranton, Dunmore, PA, 18512, USA

    Phuong-Truc T. Pham

  5. David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA

    Phuong-Thu T. Pham

  6. Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, 14445 Olive View Drive, 2B-182, Sylmar, CA, 91342, USA

    Phuong-Chi T. Pham

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  1. Phuong-Mai T. Pham
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Pham, PM.T., Pham, PA.T., Pham, S.V. et al. Correction of hyponatremia and osmotic demyelinating syndrome: have we neglected to think intracellularly?. Clin Exp Nephrol 19, 489–495 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-014-1021-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-014-1021-y

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