Diabète insipide central idiopathique chez un très grand prématuré

Idiopathic central diabetes insipidus in an extreme premature infant: A case report

CONTEXT

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare disease during the neonatal period, making it diagnosis difficult and delaying medical treatment.

CASE REPORT

We report here a case of a premature infant born at 26 weeks gestation who, during his 1st month of life, presented persistent hypernatremia with polyuria despite increased fluid supply and low sodium intake. CDI diagnosis was suspected and then confirmed by the therapeutic test with vasopressin analog, in its oral form. Electrolyte disorders were normalized after treatment, which allowed normal weight and height growth with standard fluid supply. Biological and radiological tests were all normal; this CDI was considered idiopathic.

CONCLUSION

Persistent hypernatremia with excessive diuresis should alert to CDI diagnosis.

Central diabetes insipidus: alert for dehydration in very low birth weight infants during the neonatal period. A case report

CONTEXT

Central diabetes insipidus (CDI) is a rare cause of hypernatremia during the neonatal period. The diagnosis is particularly difficult in very low birth weight (VLBW) newborns.

CASE REPORT

We report on a preterm newborn who presented CDI soon after birth. On the third day of life, signs of dehydration were present despite normal fluid supply. The diuresis rate was 4.4 ml/kg/h. Although the fluid supply was then increased, the dehydration continued, with hypernatremia, normal glycemia, diuresis of 7.4 ml/kg/h and urine density of 1005 mOsmol/l. Thus, a diagnostic hypothesis of diabetes insipidus was raised. A test with a nasal vasopressin analogue (dDAVP) was performed and CDI was confirmed. Reduction of the fluid supply became possible through appropriate treatment.

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis of CDI is rarely made during the neonatal period, especially in VLBW newborns, because of the difficulty in detecting elevated diuresis. Persistent hypernatremia, usually accompanied by hyperthermia despite abundant fluid supply, weight loss and low urine osmolality are important signs of alert.