Diabetes insipidus - central

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Endocrine glands

Central diabetes insipidus is a rare condition that involves extreme thirst and excessive urination.

See also: Diabetes insipidus - nephrogenic

Central diabetes insipidus

Central diabetes insipidus occurs when the body has too little of the hormone vasopressin.

Vasopressin normally limits the amount of urine the body produces. Normally, the hypothalamus gland in the brain makes vasopressin, and the pituitary gland stores the hormone. Without vasopressin, the kidneys do not work properly. The result is a rapid loss of water from the body in the form of dilute urine. A person with diabetes insipidus drinks large quantities of water, driven by extreme thirst, to make up for the water loss.

The reduced levels of vasopressin associated with central diabetes insipidus may be caused by damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland. This damage may be related to surgery, infection, inflammation, tumor, or injury to the head.

Sometimes the cause remains unknown. Very rarely, diabetes insipidus can be caused by a genetic defect.

Review Date: 08/08/2006
Reviewed By: Robert Hurd, MD, Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, Xavier University, Cincinnati, OH. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.