Abstract

EXAMINATION OF SERUM SODIUM AND POTASSIUM LEVELS IN PATIENTS WITH ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE ADMITTED IN BHARATI VIDYAPEETH MEDICAL COLLEGE AND HOSPITAL - A HOSPITAL BASED STUDY

*Dr. Suvarna T. Jadhav, Dr. Anup S. Hendre, Dr. Bipin M. Tiwale and Dr. Uma Datar

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Abstract

Hyponatremia is an electrolyte imbalance that commonly occurs in hospitalized patients. Most cases are dilutionalhyponatrema caused by the impairment of solute-free water clearance. Hyponatremia resulting from the impairment of solute-free water excretion is commonly accompanied by portal hypertension. In recent years, hyponatremia has attracted interest as a possible prognostic factor for liver cirrhosis. Chronic alcoholic patients experience low blood concentrations of key electrolytes and severe alterations in the body’s acid-base balance. Aim of the study is to evaluate serum sodium and potassium levels in patients with alcoholic liver disease attending Bharati Hospital. The study design is hospital based case control study. For the study 50 no of cases are selected on the basis of clinical history. 50 no of apparently healthy age and sex matched individuals have been taken from normal population as control group. Liver function test, serum sodium and potassium are done on vitros 250 auto analyser based on principle of reflectance spectroscopy. After evaluation, hyponatremia is found among the cases to be statistically significant. The serum potassium level is also mildly decreased, but not significant.

Keywords: Alcoholic liver disease, Hyponatremia.