Disorders of calcium and sodium regulation Flashcards

1
Q

what are the main mechanism that regulate water status

A
  • Thirst

- Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) from posterior pituitary gland

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2
Q

_____ and _____ regulation is closely linked

A

sodium

water

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3
Q

plasma osmolality is tightly regulated through _____

A

sodium

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4
Q

ADH is released by the posterior pituitary in response to what things?

A
  • Decreased plasma volume (sensed by baroceptors in atria/veins/carotids)
  • Increased plasma osmolality (sensed by osmoreceptors in hypothalamus)
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5
Q

ADH acts mainly via which receptor

A

AVPR2

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6
Q

Where is AVPR2 found and what are its action

A
  • Basolateral membrane of kidney collecting ducts

- Inserts aquaporin channels to increase renal water reabsorption

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7
Q

what is the effect of aldosterone on the kidneys

A

increases sodium reabsorption through ENaC- so water reabsorption happens too because water follows sodium and potassium excretion in the distal nephron

This increase in sodium status also increases plasma volume and raises blood pressure

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8
Q

what is hyponatraemia defined as

A

Serum sodium < 135 mmol/l

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9
Q

what is the cause of hyponatraemia

A

Almost always due to disorder of water balance
- Inability to suppress ADH release so inappropriate retention of water (opposite of Diabetes insipidus)
Renal impairment
- Diuretic effect (especially thiazides)

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10
Q

what are the 3 main reasons for hyponatraemia

A
  • Na and water deficit (hypovalaemia)
  • Water excess (euvolemia)
  • Na and water excess (hypervalaemia)
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11
Q

what are the causes of hypovalaemia (Na and water deficit)

A
1) Renal Losses:
Diuretic excess
Mineralcorticoid deficiency
Salt-losing nephritis
Ketonuria 
Osmotic diuresis 

2) Extra renal losses:
Vomiting
Diarrhoea
Pancreatitis

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12
Q

what are the causes of euvolemia (Water excess)

A
Glucocortioid deficiency
Hypothyroidism
Pain 
Psychiatric disorders 
Drugs
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13
Q

what are the causes of hypervalaemia (Na and water excess)

A

Nephrotic syndrome
cardiac failure
Acute and chronic renal failure
cirrhosis

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14
Q

What is ‘Syndrome of inappropriate anti-diuretic hormone (SIADH)’

A

Excess ADH or inappropriate ADH for plasma osmolality

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15
Q

Why is SIADH the commonest cause of low plasma sodium

A

due to increased body water- dilutes plasma osmolality

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16
Q

what are the causes of SIADH

A

Cancer: lung/lymphoma/leukaemia
Chest disease: pneumonia
CNS disorders: infections, injury
Drugs: opiates, thiazides, anti-convulsants, proton pump inhibitors, anti-depressants

17
Q

How to diagnose SIADH

A

Presence of these:

  • Hyponatraemia with inappropriate low plasma osmolality
  • Urine osmolality> plasma osmolality
  • Urine sodium> 30 mmol/l
  • pivotal for DIAGNOSIS (both would be high)
  • no recent use of diuretic agents

Absence of adrenal, thyroid, pituitary or renal insufficiency

18
Q

why is it important that intracellular and extracellular osmolality must be equal

A

When the serum [Na] is low, water moves into cells to increase plasma osmolality causing cell swelling

19
Q

what happens to the brain when there is a sudden decrease in Na

A

Cerebral Oedema (swelling)

20
Q

what happens to the brain when there is a sudden increase in Na

A

Osmotic demyelination syndrome (water moves out of brain to bring down plasma osmolality)

21
Q

What are the neurological clinical features of Hyponatraemia

A
Begins as being asymptomatic but as plasma Na falls
brain swelling occurs leading:
- Mild confusion
- Gait instability
- Marked confusion
- Drowsiness
- Seizures
22
Q

what is the management of hyponatraemia

A

1) Severe and acute
Unconscious or seizures- symptoms
Give infusion of hypertonic (3%) saline
Can increase sodium quickly

2)Less severe +/- chronic (common)
Establish causes- e.g. diuretics
Fluid Restriction- increase in fluid will cause further hyponatraemia
Increase Na slowly- if sodium increased too quickly then risk of osmotic demyelination

2nd line Treatment:
AVPR2 antagonists (‘vaptans’)- antagonise effect of ADH
Very expensive

23
Q

What are the cuases of hypernatraemia

A

Most usually due to water loss (‘dehydration’) and inability to access water
Main causes:
Insensible/sweat losses (severe burns/sepsis)
GI losses- severe diarrhoea or vomiting
Diabetes Insipidus
Osmotic diuresis due to hyperglycaemia

24
Q

what is the management of hypernatraemia

A
Treat Cause
Estimate total body water deficit if possible and correct loss
Avoid overly rapid correction
- Aim for ↓ 10 mmol/l in 24 hours
- Concern is cerebral oedema
Use IV 5% dextrose
25
Q

What are the sources of Calcium

A

GI tract
Bones
Kidney

26
Q

How does the GI tract contribute to Calcium homeostasis

A

Absorbed throughout small intestine from dietary sources (only approx 10% absorbed)
Vitamin D dependent

27
Q

How does bone contribute to Calcium Homeostasis

A

Body Calcium reservoir

Regulates plasma Ca via action of osteoblasts and osteoclasts

28
Q

How does Kidney contribute to Calcium Homeostasis

A

Free Ca filtered by glomerulus

97-99% is reabsorbed

29
Q

What role does Vitamin D play in calcium homeostasis

A

Increases GI absorption
Increases bone resorption
Increased renal reabsorption

30
Q

WHat role does PTH play in calcium regulation

A

When decreased Plasma calcium Levels:
Parathyroid glands release PTH, which acts on:

1) Bones
Resorption
Release of Calcium and Phosphate

2) Kidneys
Increased Phosphate excretion
Increased Calcium Reabsoprtion
Increased Calcitriol Formation–> Increased CaHPO4 absorption

31
Q

what is hypercalcaemia

A

High calcium levels in blood

32
Q

what are the clinical features of hypercalcaemia

A

Neurological:

  • Confusion
  • Fatigue
  • Stupor, coma
  • Decreased concentration

o MSK:

  • Muscle weakness
  • Bone pain
  • Osteopenia/osteoporosis

o GI:

  • Anorexia, Nausea and vomiting
  • Bowel hypomotility and constipation
  • Pancreatitis
  • Peptic ulcer disease

o Renal:

  • Polyuria
  • Polydipsia
  • Nephrolithiasis and nephrocalcinosis
  • Nephrogenic DI
  • Acute and chronic renal insufficiency
  • Distal renal tubular acidosis
33
Q

What are the ECG changes in hypercalcaemia

A

Shortened QTc interval
Bradycardia- slow heartbeat
–> becomes a life threatening problem

34
Q

what are the causes of hypercalcaemia

A

Primary Hyperpararhyroidism:
- Due to single parathyroid adenoma with raised PTH and Ca

Malignancy:
secretion of PTH-related peptide (produced by cancers)
Breast, lung and multiple myeloma are commonest tumours
Also, seen in bone metastases due to direct osteolysis

35
Q

what is the diagnosis of hypercalcaemia

A

Measure PTH
If ↓ then malignancy likely
If ‘normal’ or ↑ then primary hyperparathyroidism

36
Q

what is the management of hypercalcaemia

rehydration, biphosphonates, other agents

A

Treat underlying cause

1) Rehydration
- Patients often hypovolaemic
- Hypovolaemia impairs renal clearance of calcium
- Isotonic (0.9%) saline infusion corrects hypovolaemia
- Be careful of fluid overload
- Hourly bags of saline to bring Ca down to normal

2) Biphosphonate Therapy
- Inhibit bone resorption by inhibiting osteoclasts activity
- Agent of choice for treating hypercalcaemia of malignancy or acute hypercalcaemia
- Zolendronic acid is most commonly used
- Delayed effect, maximal at 2-4 days after treatment

3) Other agents
Calcitonin 
- Increases renal calcium excretion 
- Decreases bone resorption of calcium
- Only effective for 48 hours- so can be used while waiting for bisphosphonate to work 

Glucocorticoids
- Inhibit vitamin D production

Parathyroidectomy

  • Only if resistant to treatment
  • Rarely indicated urgently and Carried out further down the line
37
Q

what are the complications of acute hypocalcaemia

A

Tetany

  • Increased neuromuscular excitability
  • Peri-oral numbness, muscle cramps, tingling of hands/feet
  • If severe: carpopedal spasm, laryngospasm, seizures

Cardiac complications

  • Dysrhythmia
  • hypotension
  • Prolonged QT on ECG
38
Q

what are the causes of hypocalcaemia

A

Low PTH

  • After parathyroid/ thyroid surgery
  • Autoimmune hypoparathyroidism

High PTH

  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • Chronic renal failure
  • Loss of Calcium

Drugs

Hypomagnesaemia
Leads to PTH resistance

39
Q

what is the management of hypocalcaemia

A
Intravenous calcium replacement if tetany or cardiac manifestations
May also need magnesium infusion
Chronic management:
Vitamin D replacement (D2 or D3)
Oral calcium salts
Treat underlying cause