All issues > Volume 26(6); 1983

Case Report

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1983;26(6):573-578. Published online June 30, 1983.

A Case of Essential Hypernatremia.

S H Kim¹, T W Paik¹, T C Kwon¹, Y D Kwon¹, C M Kang¹

¹Department of Pediatrics，Keimyung University, Medical College and Hospital Daegu，Korea

Abstract

Essential hypernatremia is a syndrome characterized by an altered setting of central receptors regulating sodium metabolism, The resulting asymptomatic chronic hyperosmolality was not associated with thirst or volume deficit, and renal tubular action and secretion of ADH were normal. In essential hypernatremia, despite normal levels of plasma potassium, total exchangeable body potassium is reduced, and then the muscle paralysis is secondary to the hypernatremia and the reduced total body potassium status. We experienced a case of essential hypernatremia associated with suprasellar lesions, found in a 11 year old girl which was admitted with the weakness of lower extremities. Serum Na was 188 mEq/1 and K was 3.6 mEq/1 on admission, The hypernatremia was neither asso- ciated with thirst nor dehydration. Computed tomography of the brain showed high density mass lesion in the suprasella region which suggestive of craniopharyngioma. Patient had been responsed to hypotonic fluid therapy and K administration.

Keywords :Essential hypernatremia.