An unusual cause of confusion and hyponatraemia in an elderly patient

An unusual cause of confusion and hyponatraemia in an elderly patient

Abstract

A large proportion of patients presenting on the acute medical take are frail and elderly and a significant proportion of these will have symptoms such as confusion, reduced mobility and electrolyte disturbances. These symptoms are typically attributed either to the iatrogenic effects of prescribed medications, disturbances in fluid balance and possible infective causes. We describe the case of a gentleman who presented with delirium, reduced mobility and hyponatraemia who was subsequently found to have pituitary failure secondary to pituitary apoplexy.

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An unusual cause of confusion and hyponatraemia in an elderly patient

12th March 2016
PMID: 22993745
Authors Affiliations
Ruth Greer BM BS, BMedSc CT1 ACCS Severn Deanery FrenchayHospital Frenchay Park Road Bristol BS16 1LE
Jonathan Rahman MB ChB, MRCP (UK) ST6 in Acute Medicine Severn Deanery
Vernon Parfitt MB ChB, FRCP Consultant in Endocrinology North Bristol NHS Trust

An unusual cause of confusion and hyponatraemia in an elderly patient

Cite this article as:

Greer R, Rahman J, Parfitt V. An unusual cause of confusion and hyponatraemia in an elderly patient. Acute Med. 2012;11(3):151-3. PMID: 22993745.

An unusual cause of confusion and hyponatraemia in an elderly patient

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