Serial Serum Sodium Levels in Decompensated Liver Disease Patients during the Phase of Hepatic Encephalopathy

BACKGROUND: Low serum sodium values have been found in patients with Hepatic Encephalopathy. Serum sodium values have been observed to be Lower with higher Grade s of Hepatic encephalopathy. Patients With Chronic liver disease prior to the development of the Complication have stable serum sodium values. METHODS: A cohort study was done with cases of patients in Hepatic Encephalopathy and controls as patients with Chronic liver disease Serum sodium values from both groups were collected and analysed. RESULTS: Observations revealed that as the mean sodium Values showed a rising Trend there was also an increase in the number of patients with better Grades of Hepatic encephalopathy. While there was a rising trend with Serum sodium levels in patients with encephalopathy, the control group Had stable serum sodium values ,with a significant p value ( p <.005) CONCLUSION: Serum sodium values are found to be lower in patients with higher Grades of Hepatic encephalopathy and are observed to have an Increasing trend when patients recover