Diabetes Insipidus: Types, Diagnosis and Management

Abstract

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is an acquired or hereditary water imbalance disorder characterized by polydipsia and polyuria. It is a condition that involves the excretion of dilute urine in large volumes. The illness can strike at any age, with males and females have identical rates of occurrence of the disease. The two main mechanisms responsible for diabetes insipidus are either insufficient release or production of ADH (antidiuretic hormone) from the hypothalamus (central diabetes insipidus) or ADH resistance in which the kidneys are unable to respond to ADH (nephrogenic diabetes insipidus). Another form of DI is transient diabetes insipidus commonly known as gestational diabetes insipidus that occurs in the second/third trimester of pregnancy due to increased levels of placental vasopressinase that occurs progressively during pregnancy and increases metabolic clearance of vasopressin. The fourth type of DI is primary polydipsia, characterized by elevated levels of water intake that physiologically lower vasopressin and may be psychogenic, iatrogenic or dipsogenic. Signs and symptoms of DI often include water electrolyte-imbalance, excessive or severe thirst, frequent and excessive urination, fatigue, dehydration, and weight loss. Diabetes insipidus (DI) should be distinguished from primary polydipsia, and whether it is caused by a central, nephrogenic, or gestational cause. This distinction is critical since incorrect treatment can result in serious repercussions. Diagnosis of DI includes measurement of plasma sodium and osmolality, baseline copeptin, hypertonic saline stimulation and arginine stimulation test. The treatment for DI includes the use of drugs such as desmopressin, thiazide diuretics, indomethacin and amiloride.