Abstract
The management of DI in a patient who requires prolonged parenteral fluid therapy poses a great challenge to the clinician. Erratic absorption of pitressin in oil and the short action of aqueous pitressin make these preparations unsuitable for the purpose. We have used continuous infusion of aqueous pitressin in 2 patients (2 and 12 years of age) who developed DI immediately following resection of craniopharyngioma. Both patients required prolonged parenteral therapy. An I.V. priming dose (0.05 U) of aqueous pitressin was followed by continuous infusion of pitressin at the initial dose of 3 uU/kg/min. Both patients were kept on maintenance I.V. fluids and the rate of infused pitressin was adjusted until the optimum dose of pitressin was achieved. This was determined by monitoring serum and urinary sodium, urine volume and specific gravity and daily weights. The optimum dose of pitressin appeared to be 50 uU/kg/hr. No untoward side effects were observed. The short half life of I.V. aqueous pitressin renders the minute to minute adjustment of the dose a practical feasibility.
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Rezvani, I., Digeorge, A., Rapaport, R. et al. 333 CONTINUOUS INFUSION OF AQUEOUS PITRESSIN FOR ACUTE TREATMENT OF DIABETES INSIPIDUS (DI). Pediatr Res 12 (Suppl 4), 419 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00338
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197804001-00338
