The Journal of the Association of Physicians of India
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J Assoc Physicians India · Dec 2008
ReviewHyponatremia and hypernatremia: disorders of water balance.
Total body water and tonicity is tightly regulated by renal action of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), reninangiotensin-aldosterone system, norepinephrine and by the thirst mechanism. Abnormalities in water balance are manifested as sodium disturbances--hyponatremia and hypernatremia. Hyponatremia ([Na+ < 136 meq/ l]) is a common abnormality in hospitalized patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. ⋯ Hypematremia ([Na+] > 145 meq/l) is caused by primary water deficit (with or without Na+ loss) and commonly occurs from inadequate access to water or impaired thirst mechanism. Assessment of the clinical circumstances and urine studies help determine the etiology, while management of hypernatremia involves fluid resuscitation and avoiding neurological complications from hypernatremia or its correction. Frequent monitoring of [Na+] is of paramount importance in the treatment of sodium disorders that overcomes the limitations of prediction equations.
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J Assoc Physicians India · Dec 2008
Role of granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) in chemotherapy induced neutropenia.
In the past decade, there have been many clinical trials investigating the potential benefits of adjunctive therapy with colony stimulating factors (CSFs) both to ameliorate or prevent profound neutropenia and its potentially life threatening consequences. Neutropenia is the most common dose limiting side effects of cytotoxic chemotherapy. We decided to study the effect of same in our patients coming to haematology clinic. ⋯ The study demonstrates that G-CSF administration is efficacious in chemotherapy induced neutropenia by decreasing the duration of neutropenia and duration of fever.