What is diabetes insipidus of pregnancy?
Diabetes insipidus of pregnancy is a rare disorder that occurs in the third trimester and resolves within a few weeks postpartum.
It is characterized by polyuria, polydipsia, and, if inadequate free water is provided, hypernatremia. It is resistant to exogenous vasopressin and vasopressin levels may be normal or high.
A second problem with urinary concentration may occur in women with partial central diabetes insipidus.
The placenta makes vasopressinase, which breaks down endogenous native ADH but not 1-desamino-8d-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP), so that the DDAVP dose may need to be increased to offset accelerated breakdown of residual native antidiuretic hormone (ADH).
