Hyponatremia and hypernatremia in the newborn: in medio stat virtus

Abstract

Hyponatremia and hypernatremia are complex clinical problems that occur frequently in full term newborns and in preterm infants admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) although their real frequency and etiology are incompletely known. Pathogenetic mechanisms and clinical timing of hypo-hypernatremia are well known in adult people whereas in the newborn is less clear how and when hypo-hypernatremia could alter cerebral osmotic equilibrium and after how long time brain cells adapt themselves to the new hypo-hypertonic environment. Aim of this review is to present a practical approach and management of hypo-hypernatremia in newborns, especially in preterms.