SALT DEPLETION SYNDROME ASSOCIATED WITH DECOMPENSATED CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER

Abstract

The efficacy of salt-free diets in congestive heart failure has been well established. These diets are also widely used in hypertension, and varying reports as to their effectiveness have been made. Such dietary restrictions, however, have not been found to be as innocuous as was assumed. Soloff and Zatuchni¹ and MacGuire² have shown that severe complications and death may result from sodium depletion procedures. Schroeder has described patients in whom uremia developed during treatment of hypertension with the salt-free diet.³ In fact, Schroeder first suggested that the depletion syndrome be given the title of "low salt syndrome." Two deaths occurred in his series.