IV Conivaptan Helps Correct Sodium/Water Imbalance
The FDA has approved conivaptan HCl injection (YM087, Vaprisol, Astellas Pharma), an arginine vasopressin (AVP) antagonist for hospitalized patients with euvolemic hyponatremia.
Euvolemic hyponatremia is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body’s blood sodium level falls significantly below normal. Hyponatremia affects almost 4% of hospitalized patients in the U.S. each year. Although many patients have no symptoms, the condition can cause brain swelling, respiratory arrest, and death.
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Conivaptan blocks the activity of AVP and helps to increase urine output without the loss of valuable electrolytes such as sodium and potassium. This effect, known as “aquaresis,” helps to correct serum sodium levels in patients with hyponatremia caused by increased body water (dilutional hyponatremia).
The FDA has also issued an approv-able letter for conivaptan as a therapy for hypervolemic hyponatremia.
