• J Emerg Med · Mar 2020

    Case Reports

    Sequential Drug-Induced Severe Hyponatremia in a Minimally Symptomatic, 81-Year-Old Patient.

    • Gary M Vilke, Yahia Akeely, and Lucia C Lin.
    • University of California at San Diego Medical Center, San Diego, California.
    • J Emerg Med. 2020 Mar 1; 58 (3): e137-e140.

    BackgroundThere have been previous cases of medication-induced hyponatremia with various causative agents reported. Severe hyponatremia, a common medical emergency, can vary widely in its presentation, ranging from seizures and comas to no clinical manifestations.Case ReportAn 81-year-old female patient presented to the Emergency Department with history of a fall. She had a known case of hypertension and was recently started on hydrochlorothiazide. When evaluated at the hospital, her sodium level was measured as 106 mmol/L and her clinical symptoms were unremarkable. She was simultaneously diagnosed with a urinary tract infection, for which she was treated with intravenous ciprofloxacin. A few hours after administration, her sodium level fell even further, and she quickly developed symptoms of hyponatremia. After discontinuation of ciprofloxacin and treatment with hypertonic saline (3% NS), she improved and made a full recovery. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: We present an unusual case of minimally symptomatic, severe consecutive multi-medication-induced hyponatremia. As hyponatremia can present asymptomatically, routinely checking sodium levels is recommended, especially when caring for patients who recently experienced a fall or started a thiazide diuretic.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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