What is the typical treatment for severe hyponatremia?

Severe hyponatremia, defined as a serum sodium level typically less than 120 mEq/L, can lead to serious complications, including neurological problems due to cerebral edema. The primary treatment for severe hyponatremia involves the administration of hypertonic saline solutions, which are intravenous saline solutions with a higher sodium concentration than that of normal blood plasma. This helps to rapidly restore the sodium levels in the bloodstream.

Hypertonic saline is administered carefully under medical supervision, as correcting sodium levels too quickly can result in osmotic demyelination syndrome, a severe neurological condition. The typical approach is to raise serum sodium levels by no more than 8-10 mEq/L in a 24-hour period to minimize risks.

Fluids with low sodium content or increasing oral potassium intake are not appropriate strategies for treating severe hyponatremia, as they can worsen the sodium deficiency. While corticosteroids may be relevant in treating conditions affecting sodium levels, they do not directly address severe hyponatremia. Thus, rapid intravenous saline solutions are the most effective and commonly employed treatment in acute management scenarios.