Correlation of Hyponatremia with Hepatic Encephalopathy and Severity of Liver Disease

Objective: To assess the frequency of low serum sodium levels and to correlate it with the severity of liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in patients coming to the tertiary care hospital. Study Design: Observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad, from January 2011 to January 2012. Methodology: A total of 202 patients with hepatic encephalopathy and chronic liver disease had serum sodium measured. The HE was graded according to the West Haven classification (4 grades). Relationship of hyponatremia was correlated with severity grade of encephalopathy using Spearman rank correlation test. Results: Out of 202 patients, 62 (30.7%) patients had serum sodium less than 130 meq/l. Out of 202, HE was present in 69 (34.15%) patients and out of these, 38 had grade III-IV HE and 31 had grade I - II HE. Out of 69 patients with HE 57 had sodium less than 135 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hyponatremia was a common feature in patients with cirrhosis and its severity increased with the severity of liver disease. The existence of serum sodium concentration < 135 mmol/L was associated with greater frequency of hepatic encephalopathy compared with patients with serum sodium concentration > 135 mmol/L.