[Water intoxication].

Abstract

In uncharacteristic clinical symptomatology the excess of water or the water intoxication render themselves conspicuous less by the signs of an increased fluid content than by central-nervous disturbances. Among the results of laboratory examinations the hypoosmolarity measured cryoscopically always, the hyponatraemia in most cases prove the excess of free water. Exceptions are discussed. A decreased capacity of the elimination of water pathogenetically plays a larger role than primarily excessive water supply. Apart from acute and chronic renal insufficiency the various forms of the Schwartz-Bartter-syndrome (inadequate ADH-secretion) play an increasingly more important role. The therapy demands the reduction of every supply of free water, the treatment of the evoking cause and only in cases of exception the administration of hypertonic saline solution, at the most dialysis treatment.