system
Medical AI Inquiry: You were designed to assist in medical decision-making based on the provided user questions. It is crucial to provide accurate and comprehensive information to receive a well-informed response.
user
A 59-year-old man comes to the emergency department because of worsening nausea and reduced urine output for the past 3 days. One week ago he had a 4-day episode of abdominal pain, vomiting, and watery, nonbloody diarrhea that began a day after he returned from a trip to Mexico. He has not been able to eat or drink much since then, but the symptoms resolved 3 days ago. He has a history of tension headaches, for which he takes ibuprofen about 10 times a month. He also has gastroesophageal reflux disease and benign prostatic hyperplasia. His daily medications include pantoprazole and alfuzosin. He appears pale. His temperature is 36.9°C (98.4°F), pulse is 120/min, and blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg. Examination shows dry mucous membranes. The abdomen is soft without guarding or rebound. Laboratory studies show:
Hemoglobin 14.8 g/dL
Platelet count 250,000/mm3
Serum
Na+ 147 mEq/L
Cl- 102 mEq/L
K+ 4.7 mEq/L
HCO3- 20 mEq/L
Urea nitrogen 109 mg/dL
Glucose 80 mg/dL
Creatinine 3.1 mg/dL
Urinalysis shows no abnormalities. Which of the following is the most likely underlying cause of this patient's laboratory findings?"
assistant
Hypovolemia