An Unusual Association of Idiopathic Syndrome of Inappropriate Antidiuretic Hormone Secretion (SIADH) With Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD)

• Published in: Cureus 2023, Vol.15 (11), p.e48304-e48304
• Main Authors: Saha, Shubhashis, Saha, Tias, Sharma, Srishti, Mahmood, Nader
• Format: Report
• Language: English
• ISSN: 2168-8184; 2168-8184
• DOI: 10.7759/cureus.48304

Although the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) is commonly associated with many lung conditions and drugs used for treating them, no literature describes a direct association between SIADH and interstitial lung disease. This case report discusses a 79-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department (ED) with altered mental status following a fall. The patient had clinical symptoms and imaging findings concerning interstitial lung disease (ILD), and laboratory tests from the ER indicated severe hyponatremia and an increased white blood cell count, suggesting an unusual clinical picture. Detailed workup and medication reconciliation revealed no other medical conditions or intake of drugs associated with SIADH; however, the patient's low serum osmolality, high urine osmolality, high urine sodium, and improvement in serum sodium level with the initiation of 0.9% saline, salt tablets, and tolvaptan verify the presence of SIADH. While the association between SIADH and ILD is not well documented in medical literature, a few case reports from different regions have indicated a potential link, either through drug-induced ILD or SIADH resolution coinciding with ILD improvement. Hence, we describe a case of idiopathic SIADH, possibly associated with interstitial lung disease. This case demonstrates the importance of recognizing the coexistence of SIADH and ILD, as severe hyponatremia can lead to potential life-threatening neurological consequences.