Intracranial Calcifications Associated with Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus
| Title: | Intracranial Calcifications Associated with Nephrogenic Diabetes Insipidus |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Uemasu, Fujio; Endoh, Hiroomi; Sako, Akiko; Takagi, Yasuo; Kobayashi, Akio |
| Publisher: | Pediatric Nephrology |
| Date Published: | February 01, 1993 |
| Reference Number: | 140 |
A 6-year-old boy with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI) and intracranial calcification is reported. The calcifications were symmetrical and located in the basal ganglia and in the subcortical regions of the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. Episodes of hyperosmolality during infancy are considered to be one of the causes of intracranial calcification in NDI. However, other unknown factors may be involved, because up to now there have been no reports of intracranial calcification in patients with central diabetes insipidus.
This translation by the NDI Foundation is to assist the lay reader. To provide a clear, accessible interpretation of the original article, we eliminated or simplified some technical detail and complicated scientific language. We concentrated our translation on those aspects of the article dealing directly with NDI. The NDI Foundation thanks the researchers for their work toward understanding and more effectively treating this disorder.
© Copyright NDI Foundation 2007 (JC)
Their patient is only the seventh case involving NDI with intracranial calcification. All seven had delayed psychomotor development and five of the seven experienced seizures. Blood levels of calcium and phosphorus were normal in all. Since the patients did not evidence any neurological abnormalities, the authors think the calcification did not affect the nerve cells of the brain.
Of all the causes for intracranial calcification, the one that could apply to this patient could be bouts of dehydration caused by excessive blood sodium that occurred during infancy as a result of his NDI. However, the incidence of intracranial calcification in NDI is low compared with that of cerebral damage caused by high blood sodium levels arising from causes other than NDI. The authors cannot be sure that high sodium blood levels were the cause of their patient's NDI. Severity, duration or age of onset of high sodium levels caused by NDI may be important for calcification to occur, or there may be other reasons.