Pseudohyponatraemia in a patient with obstructive jaundice

Clin Chim Acta. 2006 Apr;366(1-2):357-60. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2005.10.004. Epub 2005 Nov 14.

Abstract

Introduction: Pseudohyponatraemia is uncommonly associated with severe hypercholesterolaemia. Severe hypercholesterolaemia encountered in obstructive jaundice due to an abnormal lipoprotein, lipoprotein X (LpX), may result in pseudohyponatraemia.

Case report: We report a case of falsely low sodium measurements in a patient with severe hypercholesterolaemia due to obstructive liver disease. The pathophysiology, complications and analytical effects of LpX are briefly discussed.

Conclusion: The possibility of pseudohyponatraemia should be considered in severely hypercholesterolaemic samples.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Electrophoresis, Agar Gel
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypercholesterolemia / diagnosis
  • Hypercholesterolemia / etiology
  • Hyponatremia / diagnosis*
  • Hyponatremia / etiology
  • Jaundice, Obstructive / complications*
  • Jaundice, Obstructive / metabolism
  • Lipoprotein-X / analysis

Substances

  • Lipoprotein-X