Salt-Wasting
Type: Symptom
Definition
A life-threatening failure of the kidneys to retain sodium, leading to severe dehydration.
Clinical Details
In the most severe classical forms of CAH, the enzymatic block also prevents the production of aldosterone, the hormone responsible for sodium retention. The infant rapidly loses large amounts of sodium and water in their urine while retaining dangerous levels of potassium. This causes severe dehydration, vomiting, weight loss, and potentially fatal shock within the first weeks of life.