Sodium, kidney and renal sodium retention

The tight regulation of the body's sodium and chloride concentrations is so important that multiple mechanisms work in concert to control them, and a minimal amount of salt is required for survival. Sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) are the principal ions in the extracellular fluid, especially in blood plasma. Sodium retention is the most common renal abnormality of cirrhosis and eventually leads to the formation of ascites. The arterial vasodilatation, mainly splanchnic, that occurs during liver cirrhosis is a major factor in the pathogenesis of renal sodium and water retention. The arterial vasodilatation and the subsequent hypotension stimulate a baroreceptormediated neurohormonal vasoconstrictor and antinatriuretic response in an attempt to compensate the relative underfilling of the circulation. Renal sodium and water retention and plasma volume expansion have been shown to precede ascites formation in experimental cirrhosis. [Yan Yang, Hongbao Ma. Sodium, kidney and renal sodium retention. New York Science Journal 2011;4(1):92103]. (ISSN: 1554-0200). http://www.sciencepub.net/newyork.