Malignancy associated SIADH: Characterization and clinical implications

Purpose: To determine the distribution of etiologies for the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH) in hospitalized patients with active malignancies and to characterize them according to the different etiologies. Methods: A single center retrospective study including all patients with active malignancies diagnosed with SIADH in a large community hospital and tertiary center between 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2013. Two physicians reviewed every patient’s medical file for predetermined relevant clinical data. Results: The study cohort included 204 patients. 74.4% of those with solid tumors had metastatic disease. Most patients (149, 73%) had malignancy associated SIADH, while 55 (27%) had SIADH due to other etiologies. All of the major malignancy types were implicated in SIADH. Patients with breast cancer without lung or brain involvement were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with malignancy associated SIADH compared with other malignancies [Odds ratio (OR) 0.031, 95% CI 0.003–0.25, p < 0.001]. Patients with malignancy associated SIADH had lower serum sodium concentrations on short-term follow-up (p = 0.024) and significantly shorter median survival (58 vs. 910 days, p < 0.001). Short-term hyponatremia correction was associated with better survival. Conclusions: SIADH is associated with most malignancy types. Physicians caring for patients with breast cancer without lung or brain involvement diagnosed with SIADH without an obvious etiology should consider obtaining lung and brain imaging to rule out undiagnosed metastatic spread. Patients with malignancy associated SIADH have considerably worse outcomes compared to cancer patient with SIADH due to other etiologies. Short-term sodium concentration can be used as a prognostic marker for these patients.