Diabetes Insipidus after Vasopressin Withdrawal: A Case Report and Review of The Literature

Diabetes insipidus (DI) is a relatively rare disorder presenting with the excretion of highly hypotonic urine, resulting in polydispia and high plasma osmolarity. Vasopressin, which is also referred as antidiuretic hormone (ADH), is a peptidic hormone, produced by the hypothalamus and released from the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland; its primary role in the human body is to regulate the blood pressure and the water balance. This article presents an interesting case of a transient episode of diabetes insipidus in a 48-year-old male patient with chronic psychiatric illness hospitalized intubated with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, after discontinuation of vasopressin, which was administered for the treatment of septic shock. The condition was managed with the prescription of desmopressin (0.05mg), given once. As the use of vasopressin is routine practice for the treatment of septic shock, physicians should acknowledge this rare adverse effect of diabetes insipidus after the withdrawal of vasopressin and treat accordingly.