A case of refractory serum sodium disorders with severe multiple trauma

Abstract

A 40-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with multiple injuries, including head injury and his laboratory results were significant for sodium abnormalities. Initially, hypernatremia was from increased sodium intake. Subsequently, hyponatremia developed that was unresponsive to sodium supplementation. Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion or cerebral salt wasting syndrome was suspected. Additional tests suggested post-traumatic hypopituitarism was responsible for the hyponatremia. Corticosteroid were given which normalized the serum sodium level, but the urine volume increased. Masked diabetes insipidus was suspected and desmopressin was given, stabilizing the serum sodium level. Recognizing the factors that cause sodium abnormalities in trauma patients can help lead to the correct diagnosis.