Focal neurological deficit secondary to severe hyponatraemia mimicking stroke

Abstract

Hyponatraemia is a common electrolyte abnormality seen by internists. Clinical features of hyponatraemia are primarily related to CNS dysfunction, and depend on the severity and acuity of changes in serum sodium concentration. Neurological manifestations of hyponatraemia range from nausea and malaise, with a mild reduction in the serum sodium, to lethargy, decreased level of consciousness, headache, seizures and coma in extreme cases. Focal neurological deficits are very rare in the setting of hyponatraemia. Here, we describe a patient with acute severe symptomatic hyponatraemia presenting with focal neurological deficits that resolved after correction of acute hyponatraemia.