Symptom of hypernatremia/Quick question.

[anonymousandy]

Can hypovolemia/hypernatremia cause polyuria? I want to say it can because the kidney would recognize a high level of Na rather than a low level of H20, but I'm not sure... A practice quiz just said that was wrong, but I don't know if it was just not the best choice or actually incorrect.

Thanks!

[NCRNMDM, ASN, RN]

By the way you worded that, I am going to say no. You said hypovolemia/hypernatremia, so I'm assuming you mean hypernatremia related to volume depletion. If the body begins to suffer a great deal of fluid loss without getting any fluid back to correct the loss, it is going to try and conserve the fluid that it has left, rather than producing copious amounts of urine (as is the case with polyuria). Hypovolemia can cause shock, and people suffering from hypovolemic shock tend to produce less urine, if any, due to their volume depletion.

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

don't forget the intermediate step down the road to renal failure: polyuria. people can put out a lot of urine (to the point of serious hypovolemia) because the kidneys are in such bad shape that they no longer remember how to do their primary job, which is conserving water. polyuria is usually seen just before oliguria (not too darn much urine) and anuria (no darn urine at all).

[anonymousandy]

Thanks! I think I understand the mechanism more now.