Hypernatremia: Complication of Renal Homotransplantation

Abstract

Hypernatremia was observed in five recipients of renal homografts during the first postoperative week. The peak serum levels of sodium varied between 152 and 158 mEq/liter. The postoperative diuresis was associated with sodium concentration in the urine, consistently lower than that in the extracellular water; moderate urinary hypertonicity, with urea being the main urinary solute; and urea excretion exceeding 60% of its filtered load in most instances. The inability of elaborate urine with sodium concentration equal or higher than that in the serum, possibly related to osmotic diuresis and/or altered renal hemodynamics, appears to be the primary cause responsible for the development of hypernatremia in these patients. © 1971, American Medical Association. All rights reserved