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DI
Glossary
A B
C D E F
G H I J
K L M N
O P Q R
S T U V
W X Y Z
- antidiuretic hormone:
-
vasopressin, a hormone released by the
pituitary gland that helps the body regulate fluid levels in the body.
Also referred t as AVP and arginine vasopressin.
- arginine vasopressin 2 receptor:
- the molecular structure within a
cell or on the surface to which the antidiuretic hormone, arginine
vasopressin, binds.
- Brattleboro rat:
- discovered in 1961, this research rat developed a
mutation causing it to not produce vasopressin, and was one of the first
experimental animal models of diabetes insipidus.
- breakthrough:
- feel the symptoms of DI (increased thirst and increased
and more frequent urination) when dDAVP wears off.
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- central diabetes insipidus:
- a disorder due to injury or damage to the
pituitary gland or as a result of disorders in the hypothalamous, which
results in not enough, or none of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin
(which regulates body fluid levels) being released or produced. As a
result, a large amount of dilute urine is excreted, followed by
dehydration and great thirst; it is often attended by voracious
appetite, loss of strength, and emaciation. It may be inherited,
acquired, or idiopathic.
- computed tomography (CT):
- radiography in which a three-dimensional
image of a body structure is constructed by computer from a series of
plane cross-sectional images made along an axis.
- congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus:
- a condition involving the
kidneys (see nephrogenic diabetes insipidus) which exists at, and
usually before, birth. Congenital refers to conditions that are present
at birth, regardless of the cause.
- creatinine:
- creatinine is a waste product and cannot be used by cells
for any constructive purpose. The daily production of creatinine depends
on muscle mass, which fluctuates little in most normal people over long
ranges of time. Creatinine is excreted from the body entirely by the
kidneys. With normal kidney function, the serum (blood) creatinine level
should remain constant and normal. Normal values are highly dependent on
the age and lean body mass of the person the urine is being collected
from. Urine creatinine (24-hour sample) values may therefore be quite
variable and can range from 500 mg/day to 2000 mg/day.
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- diagnosis:
- the identification of a disease or condition by its signs
and symptoms
- DIDMOAD:
- more commonly referred to as Wolfram Syndrome, this disease
encompasses diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and
deafness. Wolfram Syndrome, a rare and complex genetic disorder of the
nervous system, was named for the physician who first reported four
siblings with the combination of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus and
optic atrophy in 1938. There is no known treatment for the cause of this
disorder.
- dDAVP (also DDAVP):
- Trademark for preparation of desmopressin, the
synthetic, or man-made form of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin. See
also, desmopressin.
- dehydration:
- the condition that results from excessive loss of body
water.
- desmopressin (desmopressin acetate):
- a synthetic (man made) form of
vasopressin available as a nose spray, pill or tablet, or injection for
people who have central DI.
- diabetes insipidus:
- a disorder characterized by intense thirst and by
a high volume of urination. To make up for the lost fluid, people with
diabetes insipidus feel the need to drink large amounts of water.
Because of the excretion of large amounts of dilute urnine, people with
diabetes insipidus may quickly become dehydrated if they do not drink
enough water. There are four forms of DI, of which central (also
referred to as pituitary or neurogenic) DI and nephrogenic DI are the
most common. The other two forms are dipsogenic DI and gestagenic DI.
- dipsogenic diabetes insipidus:
- caused by a defect in or damage to the
thirst mechanism, which is located in the hypothalamus. This defect
results in an abnormal increase in thirst and hence, fluid intake that
suppresses vasopressin secretion and increases urine output.
Desmopressin should not be used to treat dipsogenic DI.
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- electrolyte:
- a substance that separates into ions when fused or in
solution, and thus becomes capable of conducting electricity. Sodium is
one example of an electrolyte. Potassium is another
- endocrinologist:
- someone who studies hormones or specializes in the
diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the glands of internal
secretion, i.e., the endocrine glands.
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- familial:
- occurring in or affecting more members of a family than
would be expected by chance
- feeding tube:
- either a nasogastric or gastric feeding tube, which is
used for long-term feeding or to supplement the nutritional needs of the
patient.
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- gastric tube:
- a soft flexible tube that is placed through the skin
into the stomach; used for long-term feeding or to supplement the
nutritional needs of the patient
- gestational diabetes insipidus (also called gestagenic diabetes
insipidus):
- occurs only during pregnancy, when an enzyme made by the
placenta destroys vasopressin in the mother. Most cases of gestational
diabetes insipidus can be treated with desmopressin, which will not harm
the fetus.
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- hypernatremia:
- a high level of sodium in the blood
- hypokalemia:
- a low level of potassium in the blood
- hyponatremia:
- a low level sodium in the blood
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- idiopathic:
- arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause
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- kidney:
- one of two bean-shaped organs located near the spine; kidneys
enable humans to excrete waste. Urine is secreted and collected, and
discharged into the bladder via the ureter
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- Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis:
- a rare disease that can affect many
different parts (or systems) of the body. The commonest affected areas
are the skin or bones. If only one system is affected, such as one or
more bones, then either no treatment or relatively simple treatment such
as steroid injections is all that is required. Usually the disease
"burns out" with time although this may take years. Sometimes
the disease involves more than the skin and bones and is then called
"multi-system" disease. The most serious situation is in
children under the age of two who have lungs, liver, or bone marrow
involvement. Although LCH is not a cancer, it is usually treated by
children's cancer specialists, and the sort of drugs used for treating
hildrens cancers (chemotherapy) are used to control the disease.
Sometimes central DI is associated with the patient having LCH.
- lithium:
- a white metal; lithium salts (lithium carbonate and lithium
citrate) are used to treat the manic phase of bipolar disorder
- lithium-induced nephrogenic diabetes insipidus:
- a sometimes
reversible form of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus caused by the patient
taking lithium (often prescribed to treat bipolar disorder)
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- mutated:
- in genetics, having undergone a permanent transmissible
change in the genetic material, usually in a single gene
- mutation:
- a change in form, quality, or some other characteristic; in
genetics, a permanent transmissible change in the genetic material,
usually in a single gene
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- n-g tube (nasogastric tube):
- a soft, flexible tube inserted through
the nose, down the throat, through the esophagus, and into the stomach.
Although a temporary insertion of the tube is possible, n-g tubes are
used for long-term feeding or to supplement the nutritional intake of
the patient
- nephrogenic:
- of or relating to the kidney
- nephrogenic diabetes insipidus:
- a condition in which the kidneys'
ability to respond to vasopressin is impaired, causing a high volume of
urination and increased thirst and water intake as a result. NDI can be
caused by a familial genetic mutation, spontaneous genetic mutation, by
the intake of medications (such as lithium), or by chronic disorders
including polycystic kidney disease, sickle cell disease or kidney
failure. There are three types of inherited NDI: 1.X-linked NDI is the
most common type of inherited NDI. It affects males more often than
females. Males are certain to be seriously affected by NDI if they
inherit the gene, whereas females are usually affected mildly or not at
all. Rarely, girls may be affected as severely as boys. Women who carry
this gene, whether or not they show symptoms, will pass it on to their
daughters and their sons 50% of the time. 2. Autosomal recessive NDI is
a much rarer type of inherited NDI. It affects males and females
equally. For a child to have the disease, both parents must carry this
gene. Parents who are both carriers of this form of NDI have a 25%
chance with each pregnancy of having another affected child. 3.
Autosomal dominant NDI is an extremely rare type of NDI. It affects both
males and females. For a child to inherit this type of NDI, only one
parent need carry the gene. inherited NDI is very rare. Those who
inherit it may begin showing symptoms in the first few days of life
- nephrologist:
- an expert in the study of the kidney, its anatomy,
physiology, pathology, and pathophysiology
- neurogenic:
- of or relating to the nervous system or brain
- neurogenic diabetes insipidus:
- more commonly referred to as central
(or pituitary) diabetes insipidus. A disorder due to injury or damage to
the pituitary gland, which results in not enough, or none of the
antidiuretic hormone vasopressin (which regulates body fluid levels)
being released or produced. As a result, a large amount of dilute urine
is excreted, followed by dehydration and great thirst; it is often
attended by voracious appetite, loss of strength, and emaciation. It may
be inherited, acquired, or idiopathic.
- nocturia:
- excessive urination at night
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- optic nerve:
- the "nerve of the sight," actually part of the
central nervous system throughout its course, misnamed as a nerve
because of its cord-like appearance; it consists chiefly of axons and
central processes of cells of the ganglionic layer of the retina, which
leave the orbit through the optic canal, joins with its opposite number
to form the optic chiasm
- osmolarity:
- regarding people with DI, osmolarity is the direct
measurement of the concentration of dissolved substances in urine. In
general, osmolarity is the concentration of an osmotic solution
especially when measured in osmols or milliosmols per liter of solution
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- pathology:
- the study of the essential nature of diseases and
especially of the structural and functional changes produced by them
- pharmaceutical:
- pertaining to pharmacy or to drugs; a medicinal drug
- pharmacological:
- pertaining to pharmacology or to the properties and
reactions of drugs
- physiologic:
- normal; not pathologic; characteristic of or conforming
to the normal functioning or state of the body or a tissue or organ
- pituitary diabetes insipidus:
- sometimes referred to as central
diabetes insipidus. A disorder due to injury or damage to the pituitary
gland, which results in not enough, or none of the antidiuretic hormone
vasopressin (which regulates body fluid levels) being released or
produced. As a result, a large amount of dilute urine is excreted,
followed by dehydration and great thirst; it is often attended by
voracious appetite, loss of strength, and emaciation. It may be
inherited, acquired, or idiopathic.
- pituitary gland:
- a small oval endocrine organ that is attached to the
infundibulum of the brain, consists of an epithelial anterior lobe
joined by an intermediate part to a posterior lobe of nervous origin,
and produces various internal secretions directly or indirectly
impinging on most basic body functions
- polydipsia:
- excessive or abnormal thirst
- polyuria:
- the passage of a large volume of urine in a given period, a
characteristic of diabetes
- potassium-sparing diuretic:
- a class of drugs that block the exchange
of sodium for potassium and hydrogen ions in the distal tubule, causing
an increase in the excretion of sodium and chloride with a negligible
increase in potassium excretion; used primarily as adjuncts to enhance
the action and counteract the effects of thiazide and loop diuretics
(that tend to cause the excretion of potassium in the urine) in the
treatment of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
- prognosis:
- the prospect of recovery as anticipated by the typical
course of a disease or condition or the peculiarities of an individual
case
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- sarcoidosis:
- sarcoidosis is a multi system disorder characterized in
affected organs by a type of inflammation called granulomas. The cause
is unknown. Some people with sarcoidosis affecting their pituitary
glands can develop diabetes insipidus
- septo optic dysplasia (SOD):
- also known as optic nerve hypoplasia or
DeMorsier's Syndrome. People with SOD have under-developed nerves from
the eye to the brain. People with SOD may also have abnormalities of the
brain and a poorly functioning pituitary gland, causing central diabetes
insipidus.
- serum (blood serum):
- the clear liquid that separates from blood on
clotting
- specific gravity:
- a measure of the weight of a sample substance, such
as urine, versus the weight of an equal volume of pure water
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- thiazide:
- any of several drugs used as oral diuretics
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- V2 receptor:
- the structure at the cellular level in the kidneys to
which the antidiuretic hormone, vasopressin binds
- vasopressin:
- one of two hormones formed by the neuronal cells of the
hypothalamic nuclei and stored in the posterior lobe of the pituitary
gland
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- water deprivation test:
- also referred to as a fluid deprivation test.
This test helps determine whether diabetes insipidus is caused by
excessive water intake (polydipsia or dipsogenic diabetes insipidus), a
defect in the production of the antidiuretic hormone vasopressin
(central diabetes insipidus), or a defect in the kidneys' ability to
rspond to vasopressin (nephrogenic diabetes insipidus). Without fasting,
the patient is deprived of water for at least eight hours. Patient
weight and measurements of plasma and urine osmolalities are obtained
before the test and each hour after the four-hour point. In patients
without diabetes insipidus, the osmolality of the urine should increase
to two to four times that of the plasma with eight hours of water
deprivation. After eight hours, vasopressin is administered and the
patient is allowed to drink as usual; in patients without diabetes
insipidus, this should increase the urine osmolality no more than 9
percent in the first hour; in those with diabetes insipidus and other
abnormalities the osmolality may increase between 10 and 50 percent.
- water intoxication:
- water intoxication occurs when a person drinks
enough water to significantly lower the concentration of sodium in the
blood, causing the brain to swell, which in turn produces a decreased
level of consciousness progressing from lethargy to stupor to coma.
- Wolfram Syndrome:
-
a rare and complex genetic disorder of the nervous
system, this syndrome was named for the physician who first reported
four siblings with the combination of juvenile onset diabetes mellitus
and optic atrophy in 1938. There is no known treatment for the cause of
this disorder. Wolfram Syndrome is sometimes referred to as DIDMOAD
(diabetes insipidus, diabetes mellitus, optic atrophy, and deafness).
- Top of Page
- x-linked:
- a gene carried on the X chromosome; the corresponding
trait, whether dominant or recessive, is always expressed in males, who
have only one X chromosome. X linkage is used sometimes synonymously
with sex linkage since no genetic disorders have as yet been associated
with genes on the Y chromosome
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Last Updated December 2006
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