FREQUENCY OF HYPONATRAEMIA AND ITS INFLUENCE ON LIVER CIRRHOSIS- RELATED COMPLICATIONS.

Cirrhosis represents the final common pathway for a wide variety of chronic liver diseases. Impairment in body water homeostasis is a common feature of advanced cirrhosis. This is characterized by a higher rate of renal retention of water in relation to sodium due to a reduction solute-free water clearance. This leads to dilutional hyponatraemia. In the present study, 60 patients coming to OPD and indoor of SGRDIMSAR, Amritsar were recruited and divided into three groups. Patients were grouped on the basis of serum sodium concentration into three groups: (1) serum sodium <130 meq/l (Group1), (2) serum sodium between 131 - 135 meq/l (Group 2) and (3) serum sodium >135 meq/l (Group3). The patients with hyponatraemia Group1 (<130 meq/l) and group 2 (131-135meq/l) were compared with group 3 (>135 meq/l) for the serum bilirubin, serum albumin, prothrombin time, degree of ascites and hepatic encephalopathy. Impact of hyponatraemia on cirrhosis related complications was evaluated.