*Cranial diabetes insipidus
*Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
Cranial diabetes insipidus is a condition in which the hypothalamus does not produce enough AVP to regulate urine production and is the most common type of diabetes insipidus. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is a hormone synthesized from the AVP gene as a peptide prohormone in neurons in the hypothalamus.
Cranial diabetes insipidus has a prevalence of fewer than 1 per 25 000 population—up to 25% of these patients have cranial neoplasms or post-pituitary surgery cranial diabetes insipidus.
Cranial diabetes insipidus can be caused by damage to the hypothalamus or pituitary gland – for example, after an infection, operation, brain tumor or head injury. Both cranial and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus can be inherited or acquired. Approximately one in three cases of diabetes insipidus has no clear, definable cause.
Hypothalamus is a small area of the brain, which is located under the thalamus. The pituitary gland is located just below the hypothalamus. The pituitary is a small gland located near the base of the brain that stores several hormones and releases them into the bloodstream as needed by the body. These hormones regulate many bodily functions.
The hypothalamus works with the pituitary gland, which makes and sends other important hormones around the body.
Cranial diabetes insipidus
