The Open Infectious Diseases Journal
2007, 1 : 1-3Published online 2017 March 5. DOI: 10.2174/1874279300701010001
Publisher ID: TOIDJ-1-1
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Does Hyponatremia have a Value in the Diagnosis of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in HIV-1 Infected Patients in Cambodia?
1
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
2 Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
3 NCHADS, National Center for HIV/AIDS Dermatology and STDs
4 The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, division of infectious diseases, departments of internal medicine and pediatrics, Brown University, Providence, Rhodes Island, USA
5 University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
* Address correspondence to this author at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. E-mail: LLynen@itg.be
2 Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
3 NCHADS, National Center for HIV/AIDS Dermatology and STDs
4 The Warren Alpert Medical School at Brown University, division of infectious diseases, departments of internal medicine and pediatrics, Brown University, Providence, Rhodes Island, USA
5 University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
* Address correspondence to this author at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. E-mail: LLynen@itg.be
ABSTRACT
Hyponatremia is a frequent finding in hospitalised HIV-patients. The diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is difficult in resource-limited settings, causing delays in treatment. In this cross-sectional study based on hospital chart review in a charity hospital in Cambodia we found that hyponatremia (serum sodium ` 134 meq/L) was significantly associated with a diagnosis of EPTB in HIV-positive adults. Our findings suggest that hyponatremia in patients with advanced stage of HIV disease should trigger a diagnostic work-up for EPTB.