ANTIDIURETIC RESPONSES TO HYPERTONIC SALINE INFUSION, WATER DEPRIVATION, AND A SYNTHETIC ANALOGUE OF VASOPRESSIN IN PATIENTS WITH HEREDITARY, HYPOTHALAMIC DIABETES INSIPIDUS

Abstract. Eight patients with previously untreated hereditary, hypothalamic diabetes insipidus have been investigated. Infusion of hypertonic saline produced no significant antidiuresis in any of seven patients tested. In two, however, urine osmolality increased to values exceeding plasma osmolality. During water deprivation (818 h) urine osmolality increased in all patients, but only in three were values exceeding plasma osmolality reached. Administration of a new, long-acting analogue of vasopressin, 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), effectively decreased urine volumes and increased urine osmolality in all the patients. The peptide was used for long-term treatment in seven cases. The results are discussed in relation to the pathogenesis of the disease.