Central diabetes insipidus, recently renamed arginine vasopressin deficiency (AVP-D), is a form of diabetes insipidus that is due to a lack of vasopressin (ADH) production in the brain. Vasopressin acts to increase the volume of blood (intravascularly), and decrease the volume of urine produced. Therefore, a lack of it causes increased urine production and volume depletion. It is also known as neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus, referring to the posterior pituitary (neurohypophysis), which receives vasopressin from the hypothalamus in the brain, via the hypothalamo-hypophyseal tract in the pituitary stalk. This condition has only polyuria in common with diabetes. Although not mutually exclusive, with most typical cases, the name diabetes insipidus is misleading. Untreated patients with central diabetes insipidus often experience polyuria, nocturia, and polydipsia due to the initial increase in serum sodium and osmolality. Central diabetes insipidus can be caused by various congenital or acquired lesions, and when the cause is unknown, it is classified as idiopathic. The water deprivation test (WDT) is a commonly used test for diabetes insipidus, a two-step process involving parenteral desmopressin administration after an initial 8-hour water fast. It differentiates primary polydipsia from diabetes insipidus and central diabetes insipidus from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus is treated by restoring free water deficit, replacing the missing hormone, and addressing the underlying ailment. Desmopressin, an arginine vasopressin analog, is used to treat central diabetes insipidus.

Signs and symptoms

Untreated central diabetes insipidus patients usually exhibit polyuria, nocturia, and polydipsia as a result of the initial rise of serum sodium and osmolality. Patients may also experience neurologic symptoms associated with the underlying illness, such as headaches and diplopia, depending on the exact origin of the central diabetes insipidus. Even when their polyuria and polydipsia are adequately managed, patients with central diabetes insipidus frequently suffer psychological symptoms as elevated anxiety, social isolation, and an overall lower quality of life.

Causes

The clinical manifestation of central diabetes insipidus is the lack of arginine vasopressin secretion as a result of the hypothalamus/posterior pituitary axis neurons being destroyed. Numerous different congenital or acquired lesions can cause the condition.

Idiopathic

When the causes of central diabetes insipidus are unknown, the condition is categorized as idiopathic.

Acquired

Central diabetes insipidus is typically an acquired disorder. The following conditions may result in central diabetes insipidus:

Genetic

Central diabetes insipidus is linked to several congenital and familial disorders. These include congenital hypopituitarism, septo-optic dysplasia, familial arginine vasopressin deficiency, Wolfram syndrome, and proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 1 (PCSK1) gene deficiency.

Diagnosis

Establishing whether hypotonic polyuria exists is the first stage in the diagnostic process. Urine production over 50 mL/kg body weight in adults has been characterized as polyuria on 24-hour urine collection  and has also been arbitrarily defined as more than 3 L/day. Confounding diseases such diabetes mellitus, renal impairment, hyperglycemia, hypercalcemia, and hypokalemia should be ruled out by baseline laboratory testing once polyuria is established. Because individuals with central diabetes insipidus are more likely than those with primary polyuria to have plasma sodium concentrations at the upper end of the normal reference range, measuring ambulatory plasma sodium concentration is beneficial. The most often utilized test for diabetes insipidus is the water deprivation test (WDT). This is a two-step test where parenteral desmopressin is administered after an initial 8-hour water fast. The first step is designed to differentiate primary polydipsia from diabetes insipidus. The second part of the test helps differentiate central diabetes insipidus from nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Measurement of the arginine vasopressin responses during the intravenous infusion of hypertonic (3%–5%) sodium chloride solution can assist in differentiating between central diabetes insipidus and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus or primary polydipsia if the WDT is unable to provide a definitive diagnosis. It has been suggested to measure plasma copeptin as a stand-in for measuring plasma arginine vasopressin. Measurement of thirst using an unmarked, basic 10-cm visual analogue scale has revealed that the start of thirst happens at the same osmotic threshold as arginine vasopressin secretion. In patients with central diabetes insipidus, thirst responses exhibit a physiological pattern of linear rise during osmotic stimulation and reduction following water consumption. Following a diagnosis of central diabetes insipidus, MRI scanning of the hypothalamo-pituitary region is necessary to determine whether central diabetes insipidus is caused by a structural lesion.

Treatment

In order to treat diabetes insipidus, the free water deficit must be restored, the missing hormone must be replaced (if central diabetes insipidus is present), and the underlying ailment must be addressed. The medication desmopressin, an arginine vasopressin analogue, is used to treat central diabetes insipidus.