STUDIES ON INTRAVENOUS WATER DIURESIS AND NICOTINE AND PITRESSIN ANTIDURESIS IN NORMAL SUBJECTS AND PATIENTS WITH LIVER DISEASE 1

Abstract

The fluid retention of patients with liver disease, leading to edema and ascites, has generally been attributed to primary sodium retention with sec- ondary, obligatory water retention. However, because of the impaired water diuresis following oral hydration and the increased amounts of urinary antidiuretic activity observed in such patients, several investigators (1-4) have postulated some primary change in mechanisms influencing the release, physiological effect or inactivation of the -neurohypophyseal antidiuretic hormone.