Diabetes insipidus secondary to tuberculous meningoencephalitis with hypothalamic involvement extending to the hypophysis: a case report

Abstract The involvement of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the central nervous system (CNS) is an uncommon and devastating manifestation of tuberculosis. We report a case of disseminated tuberculosis presenting as meningoencephalitis, hypothalamic involvement with extension to the hypophysis, and secondary insipidus diabetes diagnosed at autopsy.

Bases fisiopatológicas de los transtornos del sodio en pediatría / Pathophysiology of sodium disorders in children

Las disnatremias son el transtorno hidroelectrolítico prevalente en pacientes ambulatorios y hospitalizados. Su manejo inadecuado puede tener serias consecuencias, asociándose a un aumento en la morbimortalidad de los pacientes. El objetivo de este artículo es actualizar las bases fisiopatológicas de las disnatremias y revisar herramientas clínicas y de laboratorio que nos permitan realizar un enfrentamiento rápido y simple. Las disnatremias reflejan un transtorno del balance del agua, y el balance de agua tiene relación directa con la osmorregulación. Existen mecanismos para mantener el control de la osmolalidad plasmática, los cuales se gatillan con cambios de un 1-2 por ciento. A nivel hipotalámico existen osmorreceptores que censan cambios en la osmolalidad plasmática, regulando la secreción de Hormona Antidiurética (ADH), la que ejerce su acción a nivel renal, por lo cual el riñón es el principal regulador del balance hídrico. Cuando se está frente a una disnatremia, es fundamental evaluar cómo está funcionando este eje ADH-riñón. Dentro de las hiponatremias existen causas que son fáciles de identificar, sin embargo, diferenciar un síndrome de secreción inadecuada de ADH con un síndrome pierde sal cerebral suele ser más difícil. En el caso de las hipernatremias, sospechar una diabetes insípida y diferenciar su posible origen, central o nefrogénico, es fundamental para su manejo. En conclusión, el enfrentamiento de una disnatremia requiere conocer las bases fisiopatológicas de su desarrollo, para así poder realizar un diagnóstico certero y finalmente un tratamiento adecuado, evitando errores en su corrección que pueden poner en riesgo al paciente.

Dysnatremia is among the most common electrolyte disorders in clinical medicine and its improper management can have serious consequences associated with increased morbidity and mortality of patients. The aim of this study is to update the pathophysiology of dysnatremia and review some simple clinical and laboratory tools, easy to interpret, that allow us to make a quick and simple approach. Dysnatremia involves water balance disorders. Water balance is directly related to osmoregulation. There are mechanisms to maintain plasma osmolality control; which are triggered by 1-2 percent changes. Hypothalamic osmoreceptors detect changes in plasma osmolality, regulating the secretion of Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH), which travels to the kidneys resulting in more water being reabsorbed into the blood; therefore, the kidney is the main regulator of water balance. When a patient is suffering dysnatremia, it is important to assess how his ADH-renal axis is working. There are causes of this condition easy to identify, however, to differentiate a syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion from cerebral salt-wasting syndrome is often more difficult. In the case of hypernatremia, to suspect insipidus diabetes and to differentiate its either central or nephrogenic origin is essential for its management. In conclusion, dysnatremia management requires pathophysiologic knowledge of its development in order to make an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment, avoiding errors that may endanger the health of our patients.

Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI): clinical, laboratory and genetic characterization of five Brazilian patients

INTRODUCTION: Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is characterized by a lack of response in the distal nephron to the antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin. Manifestations include polyuria, polydipsia, hyposthenuria, recurrent episodes of dehydration and fever and growth failure. Most cases are caused by mutations in the AVPR2 gene. The mutant receptors are trapped intracellularly. METHOD: We studied five boys using clinical, laboratory and molecular data. The mean age at diagnosis was 14.6 months (range 6 to 24) and 12.2 years (7.8 to 19) after the follow-up period. The mean period of follow-up was 132.2 ± 50.9 months. RESULTS: The geometric means of the z-scores of weight and stature were -4.5 and -3.6, respectively, at diagnosis. At the last medical appointment, the z-scores of weight and stature were -0.3 and -0.9, respectively. Three patients were diagnosed with ureterohydronephrosis and exhibited increased post-void urine volume. Mutations in the AVPR2 gene were found in all patients, and the carrier status was confirmed in four of five cases. Two unrelated children presented identical mutations (S167L) in arginine vasopressin R2. Two of the patients had a mutation that has already been described in other Brazilian families (R337X), and one patient showed a de novo mutation (Y128D) in arginine vasopressin R2, since his mother's molecular analysis was normal. The recurrence risk for this family was significantly reduced. CONCLUSION: This study reports the clinical and laboratory characterization of Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus and reiterates the importance of the genetic basis that underlies the disease diagnosis and genetic counseling.