What are the causes of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus?
In infants, nephrogenic diabetes insipidus is most commonly caused by an inherited genetic mutation present at birth. As a result, the receptor for ADH doesn’t function properly. In adults who develop nephrogenic diabetes insipidus, genetics aren’t the cause. Instead, medicines or electrolyte abnormalities cause nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. Causes of nephrogenic diabetes insipidus in adults include: • Lithium, a medicine most commonly taken for bipolar disorder. Up to 20% of people taking lithium will develop nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. • Other medicines, including demeclocycline (Declomycin), ofloxacin (Floxin), orlistat (alli, Xenical), and others. • High levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia). • Low levels of potassium in the blood ( hypokalemia). • Kidney disease, especially polycystic kidney disease. The other form of diabetes insipidus is known as central diabetes insipidus. In central diabetes insipidus, the kidneys function normally, but not enough ADH is produce
