HIV/AIDS-related hyponatremia: an old but still serious problem

Ren Fail. 2018 Nov;40(1):68-74. doi: 10.1080/0886022X.2017.1419975.

Abstract

Hyponatremia is the most common electrolyte disorder in hospitals. Many medical illnesses, including congestive heart failure, liver failure, renal failure and pneumonia, may be associated with hyponatremia. In addition, hyponatremia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC) was first reported in 1993. The evidence suggests that severe hyponatremia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS patients; however, the incidence of hyponatremic syndrome in HIV/AIDS patients remains very high in clinical practice, as almost 40% of HIV/AIDS inpatients in Xinjiang, a developing region of China, are hyponatremic. A method for identifying the pathogenesis and therapeutic treatments for hyponatremia in HIV/AIDS patients is needed. This review focuses on the clinical and pathophysiological aspects of hyponatremia and highlights the causes, presentation and treatment recommendations for hyponatremic patients with HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: AIDS; HIV; hyponatremia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Asymptomatic Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Asymptomatic Diseases / therapy
  • China / epidemiology
  • Glucocorticoids / therapeutic use
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Hyponatremia / blood
  • Hyponatremia / drug therapy
  • Hyponatremia / epidemiology*
  • Hyponatremia / etiology
  • Incidence
  • Incidental Findings
  • Probiotics / therapeutic use
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sodium / blood*
  • Sodium Chloride / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Sodium Chloride
  • Sodium

Grants and funding

This work was supported by National clinical research base construction of business research subject of traditional Chinese medicine from the state administration of traditional Chinese medicine (JDZX2015238), the China–Japan Friendship Hospital Youth Science and Technology Excellence Project (2015-QNYC-B-12), and The Natural Science Foundation of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (2017D01C168).