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Diabetes insipidus - central

• Overview
• Symptoms
• Treatment
• Prevention

Alternative Names:

Central diabetes insipidus

Symptoms:

• Increased amount of urine production
• Excessive thirst
• Confusion and changes in consciousness (if the patient is unable to drink)

Signs and tests:

A person with central diabetes insipidus produces more than 3 liters of urine a day. Urinalysis will show a low concentration of salt in the urine.

A water restriction test is used to look at how well the kidney works and how much urine is produced. This test is done during a hospital stay. Results are checked every hour. A blood test to check plasma sodium concentration is done every 2 hours. Serum sodium/salt concentration may be high if the condition is untreated.

An MRI of the head may show a problem in or near the pituitary gland.

• Review Date: 8/8/2006
• Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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