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Case Reports
. 2017 Dec;15(2):37-41.
doi: 10.5049/EBP.2017.15.2.37. Epub 2017 Dec 31.

Edematous Hyponatremia Treated with Tolvaptan in a Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Gheun-Ho Kim  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Edematous Hyponatremia Treated with Tolvaptan in a Patient with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Gheun-Ho Kim. Electrolyte Blood Press. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients rarely present with either syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion or generalized edema. Tolvaptan is a selective vasopressin V2 receptor antagonist that produces effective aquaresis, and its use in ALS patients has not been previously reported. A 50-year-old male ALS patient was admitted because of both generalized edema and dilutional hyponatremia. These manifestations were refractory to conventional diuretics and fluid therapy, but a very brisk diuresis was induced by tolvaptan administration. Edema and hyponatremia were also improved, and the patient was able to be discharged without tolvaptan. In this case report, we postulate how edema and dilutional hyponatremia developed in the patient, and discuss the mechanism of tolvaptan in treating hypervolemic hyponatremia. Further experience is necessary to evaluate the usefulness of tolvaptan in patients with neurological disorders.

Keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Diuresis; Edema; Hyponatremia; Tolvaptan.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no relevant financial interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1. Chest X-ray findings. Partial atelectasis in the lower lobes of both lungs is shown.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2. Clinical course during the admission. Changes in serum sodium concentration and daily urine volume in response to intravenous fluids, diuretics, and tolvaptan are presented.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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