Common Causes of Polyuria

Decreased synthesis of vasopressin

Primary argininevasopressin deficiency, hereditary (usually autosomal dominant)

Acquired (secondary) argininevasopressin deficiency (causes outlined in text)

Primary diabetes insipidus, hereditary associated with diabetes mellitus, optic nerve atrophy, nerve deafness, and atonia of bladder and ureters (Wolfram syndrome)

Decreased release of vasopressin

Primary polydipsia (dipsogenic diabetes insipidus)

Vasopressin-resistant polyuria

Renal resistance to vasopressin

Congenital (usually X-linked recessive trait)

Acquired argininevasopressin resistance: Chronic kidney disease, systemic or metabolic disease (eg, myeloma, amyloidosis, hypercalcemic or hypokalemic nephropathy, sickle cell disease

Osmotic diuresis

Hyperglycemia (in diabetes mellitus)