Final answer:
Treatment of hypernatremia may lead to complications such as weakness, seizures, and confusion if sodium levels are corrected too quickly. Osmotic demyelination syndrome and cerebral edema are serious concerns. Careful management is required to prevent these outcomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The treatment of hypernatremia, which is a high serum sodium level, can be complex and has potential complications. If the correction of hypernatremia is too rapid, it can lead to a condition called osmotic demyelination syndrome (formerly known as central pontine myelinolysis), which can cause neurological symptoms such as weakness, confusion, and in severe cases, seizures. Additionally, cerebral edema may occur if the sodium levels are corrected too quickly, leading to increased intracranial pressure and potentially fatal complications. It's important to correct hypernatremia carefully to avoid these serious consequences.
Hypernatremia itself can be caused by conditions that result in increased retention of sodium and water, such as hyperactivity of the adrenal cortex as seen in Cushing's syndrome, prolonged treatment with steroids like cortisone and ACTH, and during pregnancy due to the retention effects of steroid hormones. This can lead to an increase in blood volume and blood pressure. Therefore, careful management of sodium levels is crucial in treating hypernatremia to avoid exacerbating these underlying conditions.