Annals of neurology
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Annals of neurology · Aug 1985
Volume depletion and natriuresis in patients with a ruptured intracranial aneurysm.
We studied the sodium balance and changes in plasma volume by an isotope dilution technique in the first week after an aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage in 21 patients. In 11 of the patients, the plasma volume decreased by more than 10%. This was accompanied by a negative sodium balance and hyponatremia in 6 patients, a negative sodium balance without hyponatremia in 4 patients, and a positive sodium balance in 1 patient. ⋯ Serum vasopressin was measured in 14 of the 21 patients. The values were elevated on admission and declined in the first week, regardless of the presence of hyponatremia. These findings indicate that natriuresis and hyponatremia in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage reflect salt wasting and not inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and that these changes should be corrected by fluid replacement rather than by fluid restriction.