PMC:2675008 / 24776-25408 JSONTXT

{"project":"2_test","denotations":[{"id":"19175600-16565125-7908397","span":{"begin":87,"end":89},"obj":"16565125"},{"id":"19175600-16565125-7908398","span":{"begin":450,"end":452},"obj":"16565125"},{"id":"19175600-18448591-7908399","span":{"begin":453,"end":455},"obj":"18448591"}],"text":"Hyponatraemia is usually defined as a decrease in plasma sodium level below 136 mmol/l.15 More important than the absolute level of hyponatraemia is the speed with which it has developed. Hyponatraemia causes oedema and cellular swelling; initial symptoms of cerebral oedema are irritability, headache, nausea, and vomiting. Subsequently, convulsions and coma can occur, and severe hyponatraemic encephalopathy can cause respiratory arrest and death.15,21 Diagnostic difficulties during labour are obvious as initial symptoms of hyponatraemic encephalopathy are nonspecific and may easily be confused with symptoms of pre-eclampsia."}