Hyponatremia and the brain

Hyponatremia is a frequently encountered condition that requires careful management to avoid both complications of prolonged severe hyponatremia and life-threatening brain damage resulting from too-rapid correction of the problem. Treatment before the condition becomes severe is the aim. Correction should be carried out as slowly as the clinical condition will allow; serum sodium should not be increased more than 12 mEq per L (12 mmol/per L) per day. Too-rapid correction may lead to demyelination syndromes.