TLS Online TPP Program

#Question id: 12220


A female patient has unexplained severe hypernatremia (plasma Na+ = 167 mmol/L) and complains of frequent urination and large urine volumes. A urine specimen reveals that the Na+ concentration is 15mmol/L (very low) and the osmolarity is 155 mOsm/L (very low). Laboratory tests reveal: plasma renin activity = 3 ng angiotensin I/ml/hr (normal = 1.0), plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) = 30 pg/ml (normal = 3 pg/ml), and plasma aldosterone = 20 ng/dL (normal = 6 ng/dL). Which of the following is the most likely reason for her hypernatremia?

#Unit 7. System Physiology – Animal
  1. Simple dehydration due to decreased water intake
  2. Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus
  3. Central diabetes insipidus
  4. Syndrome of inappropriate ADH