CASE REPORT - Hyponatremia as a cause of prolonged seizures in a child with sickle cell anemia

We report a successful outcome on recurrent hyponatremic seizures, treated with agressive sodium replacement therapy in a 12-year-old girl with sickle cell anemia. The cause of her hyponatremia was probably tubular damage due to vaso-occlusive crisis. We achieved rapid correction in neurologic findings, serum sodium level and urinalysis with sodium replacement and fluid therapy in this patient. We excluded stroke based on the findings in cranial magnetic resonance imaging. We conclude that severe seizures found in sickle cell anemia may result from hyponatremia that can be treated by sodium replacement therapy. (J Pediatr Neurol 2004; 2(4): 231-233)