Clinical approach to electrolyte abnormalities

Electrolyte disorders are common, confer significant morbidity and may be life threatening. They are frequently multifactorial and are both caused by and causative of dysfunction of multiple organ systems. There is considerable co-dependence in electrolyte homeostasis and several abnormalities may emerge simultaneously. Effective treatment is dependent on early recognition, an understanding of physiological principles underlying the disorder, judicious corrective therapy and adequate monitoring. Decades of research have shed considerable light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of these conditions. This has led to recent therapeutic advances such as the use of V2 receptor blockade in the treatment of the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH).