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Blood biochemistry: sodium
Synonym(s): Na
Overview
- Present mainly in extracellular fluid but freely diffusible throughout ECF.
- Usually base excess in diet so dietary alterations unlikely to affect concentrations in body.
- Regulated by kidneys and important in regulation of fluid balance.
- Sodium and chloride Blood biochemistry: chloride ions are the most osmotically active solute in plasma.
- Measured in conjunction with other electrolytes, eg chloride Blood biochemistry: chloride and potassium Blood biochemistry: potassium where metabolic disturbances may be suspected, eg diarrhea. Always assess in association with osmolality where pseudohyponatremia (isotonic/hypertonic) is not significant, whereas true hyponatremia (hypotonic) is significant.
- In combination with urine electrolyte concentrations for fractional electrolyte excretion in assessment of renal failure.
Uses
In combination
- As part of routine biochemical screening panel.
- Useful indicator of fluid balance and renal function.
- Should be interpreted in associated with glucose levels as assessment of pain/stress in sick rabbits, especially in gut stasis where degree of hyponatremia is directly proportional to degree of hyperglycemia.
Sampling
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Tests
Availability
- Widely available at commercial laboratories.
Technique intrinsic limitations
- Test results only significant in conjunction with other laboratory results and clinical findings.
Result Data
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Benson K G & Paul-Murphy J (1999) Clinical pathology of the domestic rabbit: acquisition and interpretation of samples. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract 2 (3), 539-552 PubMed.
- Ardiaca M, Bonhevi C, & Montesinos A (2013) Point of care blood gas and electrolyte analysis in rabbits. Vet Clin North Am Exotic Anim Pract 16 (1), 175- 196.
Other sources of information
- Saunders R A & Rees Davies R (2005) Notes on Rabbit Internal Medicine. Blackwells, Oxford, UK.
- Varga M (2014) Textbook of Rabbit Medicine. 2nd edn. Butterworth Heinemann Elsevier, UK.
- Wesche P (2014) Clinical Pathology in BSAVA Manual of Rabbit Medicine. Eds: Meredith A & Lord B. pp 124-137. BSAVA, UK.