What is cerebral salt depletion syndrome?

  Cerebral salt-wasting syndrome is a relatively rare syndrome characterized by hyponatremia and dehydration, mostly caused by neurological injury or tumor. It is now believed that hyponatremia in cerebral salt-wasting syndrome is caused by excessive renal sodium excretion due to hypothalamic endocrine dysfunction, which was first described by Peters, Welt et al. in 1950.  The main symptoms and manifestations of CSWS are polyuria (>2.5 L of urine in 24 hours in adults), thirst with a requirement for more salt intake, dehydration and abnormal autonomic function, and patients usually have spontaneous manifestations of a polyhydric and salty diet. Other symptoms may include painful muscle spasms, vertigo, nervousness, panic, tachycardia or bradycardia, and hypotension or upright hypotension, and may lead to syncope. Other symptom packages associated with abnormal autonomic function: headache, pale or flushed face, constipation or diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, acid reflux, blurred vision, neuropathic numbness or tingling, wheezing, chest pain, etc.