RESPONSES OF NORMAL SUBJECTS AND OF PATIENTS WITH DIABETES INSIPIDUS TO WATER AND SALT INGESTION 1

Abstract

4 cases of diabetes insipidus were studied. All showed a delayed output of water following a large drink, as compared with the normal. Three showed a delayed output of chloride following a dose of 0.25 g. NaCl per kg. The delays were not due to delayed absorption, since the blood changes in these subjects were the same as in normals. Pitressin did not consistently alter serum chloride or rate of chloride output in the normal or the diabetes insipidus. The total time for the elimination of such a dose of NaCl was the same (3-4 days) in the normal and the diabetes insipidus. In both cases the serum chloride was back to normal after 24 hrs. although rate of chloride output was still increased.