What is nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
Diabetes insipidus is caused by problems related to a hormone called anti-diuretic hormone or ADH. ADH is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It’s stored in the pituitary gland. Release of ADH is triggered by fluid loss or dehydration. When it’s released, it causes the kidneys to retain water. This results in a decrease and concentration of urine. In nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, enough ADH is produced. But the kidneys are partially or completely blind to it. Typically, the kidneys’ ADH sensors are missing or defective. As a result, ADH flows by without effect. The kidneys don’t absorb enough water. Instead, they excrete abundant dilute urine as if no ADH were present.
