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Hyponatremia is common in cancer patients and has a negative impact on outcomes and survival. Both the diagnosis and treatment of hyponatremia are challenging. Easy-to-use, practical guidelines are needed. The aim of this article is to discuss practical issues related to the diagnostic workup and management of hyponatremia, with particular attention to complex patients, such as those affected by neoplastic diseases. Admittedly, these patients may present several comorbidities, which may cause sodium alterations. In addition, multidrug therapy may precipitate serum sodium fall. An algorithm for the diagnosis and treatment of hyponatremia was also developed, based on the discussion of the results of a questionnaire completed by the authors and of the published recommendations/guidelines on hyponatremia. The goal was to produce an algorithm that was as simple as possible but still comprehensive, without compromising information completeness. Many explanatory notes were added with the aim of guiding clinicians throughout the management of complex patients with hyponatremia, such as those with cancer. The resulting algorithm and supporting literature are presented.

Background: Hyponatremia in cancer patients is often caused by the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH). The aim of this observational multicenter study was to analyze the medical and economic implications of SIADH in this setting. Methods: This study included 90 oncological patients from 28 Italian institutions that developed SIADH between January 2010 and September 2015. Data on clinical–pathological characteristics, anticancer therapies, hyponatremia, and related treatments were statistically analyzed. Results: The majority were lung cancer patients (73%) with metastatic disease at the onset of hyponatremia (83%). A total of 76 patients (84%) were hospitalized because of SIADH and less than half (41%) received tolvaptan for SIADH treatment. The duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in patients who did not receive tolvaptan and in those who do not reach sodium normalization during hospitalization. Patients who experienced a second episode of hyponatremia following tolvaptan dose modification/discontinuation presented a significantly lower serum sodium value at the time of hospitalization and minimum sodium value during hospitalization compared with patients who had not experienced another episode. The severity of hyponatremia, defined as minimum sodium value during hospitalization with a cut-off value of 110 mmol/l, and not obtaining sodium correction during hospitalization significantly correlated with overall survival rate. Conclusions: Hyponatremia due to SIADH could result in longer hospitalization and in a decreased overall survival when not adequately treated, and tolvaptan represents an effective treatment with a potential effect of both improving overall survival and decreasing duration of hospitalization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]