Disorders of Fluid and Electrolyte Balance
摘要
Fluid and electrolyte balance is the maintenance of the “internal milieu” and is also referred to as homeostasis. It is the domain of the kidney tubules, which constantly adjusts urine volume and composition to match intake and environmental stressors so that the overall balance remains stable. In this chapter we will review disorders of blood sodium concentrations and show that these typically reflect disorders of water rather than sodium. A solid understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of these disorders is key for their proper diagnosis and management.