Paediatric perspectives in the diagnosis of polyuria-polydipsia syndrome

Abstract

The elucidation of the underlying cause of polyuria-polydipsia syndrome (PPS) is a challenging—especially in the differentiation of partial defects of arginine vasopressin (AVP) secretion or action from primary polydipsia. The water deprivation test has been utilized for many decades, and its application in the paediatric population has been applied using parameters predominantly established in adult cohorts. In more recent times, the development of automated commercial assays for copeptin, a surrogate marker for AVP, has represented a significant advancement in the diagnostic approach to PPS. Measurement of copeptin concentrations has major advantages and has essentially superseded measurement of AVP in diagnostic protocols for PPS. Additionally, stimulated-copeptin protocols utilizing hypertonic saline infusion, arginine, and glucagon have been investigated, and are promising. However, further studies are required in the population—incorporating the differences in physiological regulation of water homeostasis, and safety requirements—before there is widespread adoption into clinical practice.