What is NDI?
by Robert S. Wildin, M.D., Oregon Health Sciences University What is NDI? NDI stands for Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus. It is a medical condition in which the kidney is unable to conserve water. What are the symptoms? The main symptoms are excreting large amounts of dilute urine (“polyuria”), and drinking large amounts of water (“polydipsia”) to make up for the water lost in the urine. In infants, irritability, lethargy, fever, vomiting, constipation or diarrhea, seizures, and failure to gain weight can be seen, although they are also seen in many other conditions. What are the complications? Rapid and severe dehydration occurs when not enough water is drunk to make up for water lost in the urine. The dehydration is usually “hyperosmolar,” meaning that the concentration of the blood plasma gets too high. If this happens rapidly, or if it is present for a long time, permanent brain damage can occur. Poor nutrition and poor growth may be seen. The great and constant flow of urine over m
