From the Research
Causes of Hyponatremia in Patients with Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
- Hyponatremia in cancer patients is often caused by the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) 1, 2, 3, 4.
- SIADH can be due to the ectopic production of antidiuretic hormone (vasopressin) by the tumor tissue 2, 3, 4.
- Other causes of hyponatremia in cancer patients include extracellular fluid depletion, renal toxicity caused by chemotherapy, and other underlying conditions 2, 3.
- In patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, hyponatremia can be caused by nab-paclitaxel-induced SIADH, as reported in a case study 5.
- The use of certain anticancer drugs, such as cyclophosphamide, ifosfamide, vincristine, and cisplatin, can also cause SIADH and lead to hyponatremia 3.
Risk Factors and Management
- Risk factors for hyponatremia in cancer patients include chemotherapy, treatment-induced nausea and vomiting, hydration, pain, narcotic drugs, and physical and emotional stress 4.
- The management of hyponatremia depends on the patient's symptoms, severity, onset timing, and extracellular volume status 2, 4.
- Treatment options for hyponatremia include fluid restriction, fluid replacement, and the use of AVP-receptor antagonists, such as conivaptan, lixivaptan, tolvaptan, and satavaptan 1, 4.