Hyponatremia and hepatorenal syndrome are severe complications in patients with cirrhosis and ascites resulting from circulatory abnormalities (splanchnic and systemic vasodilatation) that develop with portal hypertension. Both conditions are associated with an increased risk of death. Hyponatremia and renal failure may develop in patients with cirrhosis due to causes other than portal hypertension. Making an accurate differential diagnosis is important both therapeutically and prognostically. In this article, we discuss the pathophysiology, diagnosis, differential diagnosis, and management of hyponatremia and hepatorenal syndrome in patients with cirrhosis.
Keywords: Hyponatremia; ascites; cirrhosis; hepatorenal syndrome.