THE EFFECT OF CHANGING SERUM OSMOLALITY ON THE RELEASE OF ANTIDIURETIC HORMONE IN CERTAIN PATIENTS WITH DECOMPENSATED CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER AND LOW SERUM OSMOLALITY

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Abstract
The antidiuretic effect of hypertonic NaCl given during water diuresis was studied in 6 subjects with de-compensated Laennec''s cirrhosis and chronically depressed osmolality of the serum. It was found that marked antidiuresis ensued when the osmolality of the serum was restored to the initial low level without a change in the total volume of water in the body. It is concluded that these subjects with low serum Na and total solute concentration were sensitive to further changes in tonicity , and that the release of antidiuretic hormone was regulated in a qualitatively normal fashion about a lower than normal level of osmolality.