Management of hypernatremias

BACKGROUND The hypernatremias (serum sodium concentration value exceeding 145 mMol per Liter) are common electrolyte disorders, frequently developing in hospitalized patients, sometimes as an iatrogenic condition. Hypernatremia often causes cellular dehydratation and the resultant morbidity may be serious or even life-threatening. Some of its major complications result not from the disorder itself but from the inappropriate treatment of it. CONCLUSIONS In this article we focus on the pathophysiology of these electrolyte disorders (hypovolemic, euvolemic and hypervolemic hypernatremias) and on the management of the sodium and water derangement and of the clinical complications.