Acute Symptomatic Hyponatremia With Reversible Diffuse Brain Edema on CT
Hyponatremia-induced altered consciousness is a common clinical presentation, and brain edema is a well-known complication. However, few reports describe detailed imaging findings or discuss the neurological prognosis in such cases. We report a case of acute symptomatic hyponatremia in which diffuse brain edema was evident on CT at admission. The imaging findings resolved with appropriate treatment during hospitalization, and the patient recovered with no neurological sequelae. This case demonstrates that brain edema caused by hyponatremia can be reversible and does not necessarily predict a poor neurological outcome. It also highlights the importance of considering water intoxication in patients presenting with hyponatremia and diffuse brain edema. Additionally, it suggests that CT findings may assist in guiding treatment strategies for severe hyponatremia.
Authors
- So Sakamoto (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0921-7375)
- Chikao Ito (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1972-9638)
- Isao Takahashi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0416-5462)
- Y. Yoshiike
Institutions
- Asahi General Hospital (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Cureus
- Published
- 2025-11-27
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.97960
- Primary Topic
- Electrolyte and hormonal disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00