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Abstract

Liver cirrhosis results from prolonged, widespread but patchy hepato-cellularnecrosis due to various reasons. Objectives: To determine the frequency and severity ofhyponatremia in patients with liver cirrhosis. Study Design: Descriptive case series study.Period: Six months. Setting: Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad. Methods: The cirrhoticsubjects were assessed for hyponatremia and its severity. The data was analyzed in SPSS 16and the frequency and percentage was calculated for hyponatremia and statistically p -value≤0.05 was considered as significant. Result: Sixty five percent males and thirty five percentfemales of liver cirrhosis were studied. The mean age ± SD of overall cirrhotic subjects was40.79±7.83. The hyponatremia was identified in 72% (51 males and 21 females) patients. Themean ±SD for Na+ level in overall population was 129.73±83.51 while it was 119.92±3.61 inhyponatraemic cirrhotic subjects. The sodium level in male and female hyponatraemic cirrhoticpatients was 121.73±8.63 and 118.92±3.31. Conclusions: Dilutional hyponatremia is frequentin patients with liver cirrhosis.