I have also been involved in measuring faecal electrolytes in the past
and, like Dr Falconer-Smith, we had a patient who had taken magnesium
sulphate and the osmolar gap, Mg etc were useful in that case.
However I always thought there was a fundamental flaw in measuring Na and K
and osmolality and trying draw conclusions from these results when there are
so many other osmotically active species in faecal fluid.
A very very watery diarrhoea might be worth investigating but not otherwise.
Dr Ian Holbrook
Department of Chemical Pathology
York District Hospital
Wigginton Road
YORK YO31 8HE
UK
From: Lars Eikvar <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: Lars Eikvar <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Method for determination of electrolytes in faeces
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 14:06:58 +0200
Dear colleagues
We are currently receiving requests for determination of Na and K in feces.
this analysis is only performed by one or two labs in Norway. The method in
use there is not very attractive, since it involves boiling in concentrated
HNO3.
Have any of the list members any experience with alternative methods?
According to my poor knowledge of the subject, determination of
electrolytes can be of interest in discriminating between secretory and
osmotic diarrhea. Does anyone have any views about the usefulness of this
today?
Kind regards
Lars Eikvar
MD, PhD
consultant
Department of clinical chemistry
Ullevaal hospital
Norway
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