Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Salt-wasting represents a relatively common cause of emergency admission in infants and may result in life-threatening complications. Neonatal kidneys show low glomerular filtration rate and immaturity of the distal nephron leading to reduced ability to concentrate urine. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for infants hospitalized in a single Institution from 1(st) January 2006 to 31(st) December 2015. The selection criterion was represented by the referral to the Endocrinology Unit for hyponatremia (serum sodium <130 mEq/L) of suspected endocrine origin at admission. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: Emergency management of infants presenting with salt wasting requires correction of water losses and treatment of electrolyte imbalances. Nevertheless, the differential diagnosis may be difficult in emergency settings, and sometimes hospitalized infants presenting with salt-wasting are immediately started on steroid therapy to avoid life-threatening complications, before the correct diagnosis is reached. Physicians involved in the management of infants with salt-wasting of suspected hormonal origin should remember that, whenever practicable, a blood sample for the essential hormonal investigations should be collected before starting steroid therapy, to guide the subsequent diagnostic procedures and in particular to address the analysis of candidate genes.
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Authors | Carla Bizzarri, Nicole Olivini, Stefania Pedicelli, Romana Marini, Germana Giannone, Paola Cambiaso, Marco Cappa |
Journal | Italian journal of pediatrics
(Ital J Pediatr)
Vol. 42
Issue 1
Pg. 73
(Aug 02 2016)
ISSN: 1824-7288 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 27485500
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adrenal Insufficiency
(congenital, diagnosis, genetics)
- Aldosterone
(metabolism)
- Diagnosis, Differential
- Female
- Glomerular Filtration Rate
- Humans
- Hyponatremia
(diagnosis, genetics)
- Infant, Newborn
- Infant, Newborn, Diseases
(diagnosis, genetics, metabolism)
- Italy
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- Water-Electrolyte Imbalance
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