pseudo-hyponatremia

Q: What makes hypertriglyceridemia in serum to cause pseudo-hyponatremia?


Answer:  The excess of triglyceride in serum displaces water containing sodium. This falsely reads as hyponatremia on laboratory machine counter.

#electrolytes
#laboratory-medicine


Reference:

Howard JM, Reed J. Pseudohyponatremia in acute hyperlipemic pancreatitis. A potential pitfall in therapy. Arch Surg 1985; 120:1053.