Neonatal hyponatremia and hypernatremia: incidence, risk factors and clinical manifestations

Abstract

Hyponatremia and hypernatremia are common conditions that are often found in newborns and have a significant impact on their health and mortality. This article presents a review of the scientific literature on the features of sodium homeostasis, risk factors and clinical manifestations of its impairment in the neo-natal period. The review examines current approaches to identifying the causes that contribute to the development of these conditions, and analyzes how changes in sodium levels affect the health and mortality rates of newborns. At birth, there is a decrease in the volume of extracellular fluid and a loss of sodium, which is part of the process of adaptation of water-electrolyte metabolism. Sodium imbalance is especially common in newborns with extremely low body weight due to immaturity of the kidneys. This can manifest as early hypernatremia or late hyponatremia. Severe neonatal hyponatremia is a critical electrolyte imbalance that can lead to serious neurological consequences. Hypernatremic dehydration, which can also occur in full-term newborns with weight loss, is also associated with serious complications and can be fatal if not diagnosed in time. Increased sodium intake is a risk factor for intraventricular hemorrhage in very low birth weight infants. Therefore, constant monitoring of sodium levels in the neonatal period is of paramount importance for the timely detection and correction of disorders associated with its content.