Abstract
Plasma ADH levels were studied in 19 patients with liver cirrhosis,2 patients with chronic hepatitis and 5 patients with malignant liver tumors after fluid deprivation for 13 hours. Liver functions, serum and urinary osmolality, circulating blood volume and serum electrolytes were studied simultaneously. ADH was extracted from plasma by Yoshida 's method and bioassay was carried out using experimental diabetes insipidus rats according to Yamane and Kunishige's method.
Results obtained were as follows:
1) Plasma ADH levels were slight ly elevated in about 24% of patients with liver diseases. But no correlation was found between plasma ADH level and the degree of ascites.
2) There were no statistically significant correlations between plasma ADH level and liver functions, serum protein fractions, serum and urinary osmolality, TCH20serum sodium and circulating blood volume respectively.
3) In some cases plasma ADH levels in creased in order to maintain homeostasis after forced diuresis by diuretics or anti-aldosterone agents.
4) At least in one case SIADH was suspected. Thus ADH seems not to be a primary cause of fluid retention in liver diseases and therefore other factors causing sodium and water retention would appear important. But in some cases ADH will increase secondary to body fluid disarrangement, and in others some still unknown factors will be responsible for inappropriate secretion of ADH. The problem of osmoreceptor in liver still remains unsolved.
