Autoimmune diseases like Sjögren's syndrome, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus), Addison's disease, and certain autoimmune encephalitides (like anti-LGI1) can cause electrolyte imbalances, often by affecting the kidneys' ability to regulate sodium, potassium, and acid-base balance, or by triggering hormone issues (SIADH) leading to low sodium (hyponatremia) or high potassium (hyperkalemia). These imbalances can manifest as kidney inflammation (interstitial nephritis, RTA) or hormonal disruptions, causing symptoms like fatigue, confusion, or muscle issues.

Can inflammation cause electrolyte imbalance?

Conclusions. IBD-associated mucosal inflammation and the consequent impaired secretion and absorption of electrolytes often result in electrolytic and acid-base imbalance in IBD patients. Reduced sodium and chloride absorption and increased potassium secretion comprise the most common and critical abnormalities.

What medical conditions deplete electrolytes?

Causes can include:

• Dehydration (too little water)
• Over-hydration (too much water)
• Loss of fluids due to diarrhea, vomiting, sweating or high fever.
• Malabsorption due to a stomach disorder.
• Eating disorders or a restrictive or poor diet.
• Kidney, liver or heart disease.
• Hormonal or endocrine disorders.

What labs are abnormal with ulcerative colitis?

The laboratory tests most used to measure the acute-phase proteins in clinical practice are the serum concentration of C-reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Other biomarkers of acute phase response in UC include platelet and leukocyte count, serum albumin, and orosomucoid concentrations.

What are the red flags of Addison's disease?

Red flags for Addison's disease include extreme fatigue, unexplained weight loss, darkening skin (hyperpigmentation), salt cravings, low blood pressure (causing dizziness), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which can worsen into a life-threatening adrenal crisis with severe pain, confusion, and shock. These symptoms often develop slowly but can appear suddenly during stress or illness, requiring immediate medical attention.

Recognizing and Managing Electrolyte Imbalances - Critical Concepts for Nursing Students

What is the most lethal autoimmune disease?

There isn't one single "most dangerous" autoimmune disease, as danger depends on severity, organ impact, and treatability, but Giant Cell Myocarditis (GCM) is often called the "most fatal" due to its rapid progression and high mortality, while Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus) are considered among the most serious due to severe, long-term disability and organ damage, respectively, with conditions like vasculitis also posing significant threats.
 

Do autoimmune disorders show up in bloodwork?

Diagnosing an autoimmune disease is often a differential diagnosis. This means your provider will test you for several different conditions that can cause the symptoms you're experiencing until they find the cause. Your provider might order blood tests to look for specific signs (markers) of autoimmune diseases.

What is the walk for autoimmune disease?

Whether you're living with autoimmune disease, love someone who is, or simply want to make a difference, the Hope Journey Walk brings our community together to create hope, connection, and a brighter future. Every step helps fund critical research, advocacy, and programs that improve lives.

What disease mimics Sjögren's disease?

Many of the autoimmune diseases that overlap with Sjögren's can cause the same symptoms. For example, overlapping diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis can also cause fatigue or joint pain — symptoms that are common in Sjögren's. These similarities can make it challenging to diagnose overlapping diseases.

What labs are abnormal with Sjögren's syndrome?

Abnormal labs in Sjögren's syndrome often include specific autoantibodies like ANA, anti-SSA (Ro), and anti-SSB (La), along with inflammation markers such as elevated ESR/CRP, and sometimes rheumatoid factor (RF); other common findings are hypergammaglobulinemia, low complement levels (C3/C4), and sometimes anemia or low white blood cells, though a biopsy might be needed if antibodies are negative but symptoms persist.
 

What are early warning signs of autoimmune disease?

Early warning signs of autoimmune diseases often include persistent, unexplained fatigue, joint pain, and muscle aches, coupled with inflammation (swelling, redness, heat), low-grade fevers, skin rashes (like a butterfly rash), digestive issues, and "brain fog" (difficulty concentrating). Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, early diagnosis can be tricky, so seeing a doctor for persistent new symptoms is crucial.
 

What are early signs of adrenal crisis?

Signs of an adrenal crisis include:

• severe dehydration.
• pale, cold, clammy skin.
• sweating.
• rapid, shallow breathing.
• dizziness.
• severe vomiting and diarrhoea.
• severe muscle weakness.
• headache.

What skin color is associated with Addison's disease?

Pigmentation can be brownish black, homogeneous, or blotchy and may involve the skin, oral cavity, conjunctiva, and genitalia. It is also called as bronze pigmentation. It does not depend on the gender or race.

What are the first signs of adrenal tumor?

Adrenal Tumor Symptoms

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Women: Excess facial and body hair, deep voice or problems with menstruation.
• Men: Breast tenderness or enlargement, lowered sex drive and/or erectile dysfunction.
• Excess fat in the upper back between the shoulders or in the neck.

What is the Cushing's disease?

Cushing disease is a condition in which the pituitary gland releases too much adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). The pituitary gland is an organ of the endocrine system. Cushing disease is a cause of Cushing syndrome.

How do you reset your adrenals?

How is adrenal fatigue treated?

1. eat a healthy diet.
2. exercise more.
3. get more sleep.
4. avoid smoking, alcohol, drugs and caffeine.

What are the early warning signs of IBD?

Inflammatory Bowel Disease Symptoms

• Abdominal pain (pain in the stomach area)
• Diarrhea, sometimes with blood.
• Urgency to have a bowel movement and fecal incontinence.
• Rectal bleeding.
• Weight loss.
• Fever.
• Anemia.
• Malnutrition and delayed growth in people who develop IBD as children.

What is the gold standard test for UC?

Diagnosing Ulcerative Colitis

You may then need one or more diagnostic tests. Colonoscopy and sigmoidoscopy are the "gold standard" for diagnosing ulcerative colitis.

What confirms ulcerative colitis?

Sigmoidoscopy. A diagnosis of ulcerative colitis can be confirmed by examining the level and extent of bowel inflammation. This is initially done by using a sigmoidoscope, a thin, flexible tube containing a camera that's inserted into your rectum (bottom).

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