Sick Sinus Syndrome Following Severe Hyponatremia Associated with Desmopressin Therapy

Abstract

Desmopressin diacetate arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) is a synthetic analogue of the arginine vasopressin that is widely used in the treatment of diabetes insipidus, nocturnal enuresis, and polyuria. Although it is generally well-tolerated, DDAVP can cause hyponatremia, especially in elderly patients. There are many reports of DDAVP-induced hyponatremia, but there has been only one case report in which sinus node dysfunction was caused by severe hyponatremia. Here we report a case of sick sinus syndrome that occurred during an episode of severe hyponatremia induced by chronic use of desmopressin in a 91-year-old man who had nocturnal enuresis.