Altered Prostaglandin Signaling as a Cause of Thiazide-Induced Hyponatremia

Thiazide-associated hyponatremia increases the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events among elderly Taiwanese patients

BACKGROUND

Thiazide-associated hyponatremia (TAH) has been supposed to increase the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the elderly. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the association of TAH with the risk of MACE in elderly Taiwanese patients.

METHODS

Data from the longitudinal generation tracking database (LGTD 2010) of the Health and Welfare Data Science Center (HWDC) were retrospectively assessed. The TAH study group was defined as using > 30 cumulative daily defined doses (CDDDs) thiazide diuretics within one year before diagnosis of hyponatremia. The control group (1:3 propensity score matching) had no diagnosis of hyponatremia but had used > 30 CDDDs thiazide diuretics within one year. Data on MACE were extracted using International Classification of Diseases codes. Outcomes were assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model and Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1155 and 3465 individuals were enrolled in the TAH and the control groups, respectively. The rates of MACE (11.1% vs. 7.3%) and death (22.8% vs.12.2%) were significantly higher in the TAH group than the control group. In the TAH group, the adjusted HRs were 1.29 (CI 1.01 ‒ 1.65) for MACE, 1.39 (CI 1.19 ‒ 1.63) for all-cause death, and 1.61 (CI 0.90 ‒ 2.92) for stroke.

CONCLUSION

TAH in patients above 65-years-old is associated with a 29% higher risk of MACE, 39% higher risk of all-cause death, and 61% higher risk of stroke. This work suggests that thiazides prescription in elderly patients should be more careful. However, further research is required to confirm our findings.

Pharmacological Nephroprotection in Non-Diabetic Chronic Kidney Disease-Clinical Practice Position Statement of the Polish Society of Nephrology

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a modern epidemic worldwide. Introducing renin-angiotensin system (RAS) inhibitors (i.e., ACEi or ARB) not only as blood-pressure-lowering agents, but also as nephroprotective drugs with antiproteinuric potential was a milestone in the therapy of CKD. For decades, this treatment remained the only proven strategy to slow down CKD progression. This situation changed some years ago primarily due to the introduction of drugs designed to treat diabetes that turned into nephroprotective strategies not only in diabetic kidney disease, but also in CKD unrelated to diabetes. In addition, several drugs emerged that precisely target the pathogenetic mechanisms of particular kidney diseases. Finally, the role of metabolic acidosis in CKD progression (and not only the sequelae of CKD) came to light. In this review, we aim to comprehensively discuss all relevant therapies that slow down the progression of non-diabetic kidney disease, including the lowering of blood pressure, through the nephroprotective effects of ACEi/ARB and spironolactone independent from BP lowering, as well as the role of sodium-glucose co-transporter type 2 inhibitors, acidosis correction and disease-specific treatment strategies. We also briefly address the therapies that attempt to slow down the progression of CKD, which did not confirm this effect. We are convinced that our in-depth review with practical statements on multiple aspects of treatment offered to non-diabetic CKD fills the existing gap in the available literature. We believe that it may help clinicians who take care of CKD patients in their practice. Finally, we propose the strategy that should be implemented in most non-diabetic CKD patients to prevent disease progression.

Hyponatremia in infants with community-acquired infections on hospital admission

Acute moderate to severe gastroenteritis is traditionally associated with hypernatremia but recent observations suggest that hypernatremia is currently less common than hyponatremia. The latter has sometimes been documented also in children with acute community-acquired diseases, such as bronchiolitis and pyelonephritis. We investigated the prevalence of dysnatremia in children with acute moderate severe gastroenteritis, bronchiolitis and pyelonephritis. This prospective observational study included 400 consecutive previously healthy infants ≥4 weeks to ≤24 months of age (232 males and 168 females): 160 with gastroenteritis and relevant dehydration, 160 with moderate-severe bronchiolitis and 80 with pyelonephritis admitted to our emergency department between 2009 and 2017. Circulating sodium was determined by means of direct potentiometry. For analysis, the Kruskal-Wallis test and the Fisher’s exact test were used. Hyponatremia was found in 214 of the 400 patients. It was common in gastroenteritis (43%) and significantly more frequent in bronchiolitis (57%) and pyelonephritis (68%). Patients with hyponatremia were significantly younger than those without hyponatremia (3.9 [1.6–13] versus 7.5 [3.4–14] months). The gender ratio was similar in children with and without hyponatremia. Hyponatremia was associated with further metabolic abnormalities (hypokalemia, hyperkalemia, metabolic acidosis or metabolic alkalosis) in gastroenteritis (71%) and pyelonephritis (54%), and always isolated in bronchiolitis. In conclusion, hyponatremia is common at presentation among previously healthy infants with gastroenteritis, bronchiolitis or pyelonephritis. These data have relevant consequences for the nutrition and rehydration management in these conditions.