Türk Nöroşirürji Dergisi 2011 , Vol 21 , Num 3
Vaptans in Neurosurgery
Bülent BAKAR1, İsmail Hakkı TEKKÖK2
1Kırıkkale Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Kırıkkale, Türkiye
2TOBB-ETÜ Hastanesi, Nöroşirürji Bölümü, Ankara, Türkiye
Hyponatremia is an electrolyte imbalance that occurs in as many as 6-22% of hospitalized patients; and has high morbidity and mortality rates when not treated. Hyponatremia in neurosurgery clinics could commonly occur with two different mechanisms that have different treatment: Syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone and cerebral salt wasting. Consequently, the aetiopathogenesis of the hyponatremia should be clearly identified to consider the correct treatment protocol; and to avoid the adverse effects of the sodium replacement treatment. New drugs that are arginine-vasopressin-receptor antagonists (named vaptans) are recently being investigated. Although no data are available for the comparison of the effectiveness and toxicities of these drugs with other therapeutic approaches (such as demeclocycline, furosemide etc.) in the chronic stage, the only accepted indication of these drugs is for the treatment of euvolaemic or hypervolaemic hyponatremia. Other indications for treatment with these drugs will probably emerge. Anahtar Kelimeler : Hyponatremia, Vaptan, Vasopressin