Effect of Protein Supplementation and Fluid Restriction on Plasma Sodium Levels in Patients Undergoing Pituitary Surgery

The investigators are conducting this study to investigate new preventive measures for patients with low sodium levels (hyponatremia), which can occur after surgery on the pituitary gland. This hyponatremia is often caused by the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis (SIAD). SIAD occurs when the pituitary gland secretes too much antidiuretic hormone. The antidiuretic hormone causes the kidneys to absorb more water. This dilutes the sodium in the blood and leads to hyponatremia. Low sodium levels are particularly common after pituitary surgery, as the procedure on the pituitary gland can lead to increased reactive secretion of antidiuretic hormone. At present, apart from educating patients about the symptoms of hyponatremia, there are no established standard measures for prevention after pituitary surgery. If hyponatremia is present, it is currently treated primarily by fluid restriction, which is not always pleasant or easy to adhere to. With this study, the investigators want to investigate whether protein supplementation or fluid restriction between day 4 and day 9 after surgery can serve as a preventive measure to stabilize sodium levels after pituitary surgery and improve the quality of life of patients.

NCT Number	NCT07273630
Lead Sponsor	University Hospital, Basel, Switzerland
Conditions	Hyponatremia, Pituitary Surgery
Enrollment	282 participants
Start Date	2026-01-20
Primary Completion	2028-10-01 (estimated)
Study Completion	2028-10-01 (estimated)
Updated on ClinicalTrials.gov	2026-02-03