Intra- and extracellular water dynamics on rehydration in cholera and noncholera patients

• Published in: Digestive diseases and sciences 1998-03, Vol.43 (3), p.663-667
• Main Authors: HOSSAIN, M. I, KABIR, I, FUCHS, G. J, MCCUTCHEON, M. J, ALVAREZ, J. O, KHALED, M. A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition; Body Water - physiology; Case-Control Studies; Cholera; Cholera - physiopathology; Cholera - therapy; Diarrhea - physiopathology; Diarrhea - therapy; Electric Impedance; Female; Fluid Therapy; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Rehydration Solutions - therapeutic use; Time Factors; Tropical bacterial diseases; Tropical medicine
• ISSN: 0163-2116; 1573-2568
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1018891914622

To estimate the intra- and extracellular body water compartments during rehydration of patients with cholera and noncholera diarrhea by bioimpedance analyzer, we studied 30 patients with acute watery diarrhea. Total body water (TBW), intracellular water (ICW), and extracellular water (ECW) of severely dehydrated adult patients were measured with a dual frequency bioimpedance analyzer at different phases of rehydration. Fluid compartments between cholera and noncholera patients were compared. Cholera patients gained more TBW than noncholera patients during recovery. Unlike patients with noncholera diarrhea, the gain in cholera patients was mainly contributed by the ICW (1.5 +/- 1.6 vs 3.0 +/- 1.2 liters, respectively, P < 0.01). It was also observed that the recovery of the ICW compartment in cholera patients occurred rapidly within the first 2 hr after infusion. Differential dynamics of body water compartments in cholera compared to noncholera patients as observed in this study may contribute further to understanding the mechanism of dehydration in diarrheal disease, which might help in improving case management.