Master Central Diabetes Insipidus with Picmonic for Medicine

Diabetes insipidus is a problem with vasopressin/ADH levels. For central diabetes insipidus, there is a deficiency in ADH because the posterior pituitary has a problem producing and releasing ADH.

This disorder has an increase in serum osmolality and a decreased urine osmolality. While there is no change in urine osmolality when water is restricted, urine osmolality is more than 50% increased when desmopressin (an analog of anti-diuretic hormone) is given, resulting in a decrease in serum osmolality.

Psychiatric disorders are associated with the development of central diabetes insipidus. Examples can include head injury, infection, schizophrenia, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Secondary causes of this disorder also include brain injuries, which can result from surgery, tumors, hypoxia, and infiltrative lesions.

Desmopressin is a synthetic ADH analog that can be administered as a treatment.