The physiology and emerging roles of antidiuretic hormone.
The antidiuretic hormone (ADH) vasopressin is a simple peptide hormone with a number of complex, essential physiological actions. It is becoming clear that this hormone is developing an important therapeutic role in a number of different conditions. These include vasodilatory shock due to sepsis or cardiac surgery, cardiac arrest, and prolonged/excessive bleeding caused by, for example, variceal haemorrhage. This article reviews the physiology of ADH relevant to these actions and scrutinises the evidence for its therapeutic applications.
Singh Ranger
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St George's Hospital and Medical School, London, UK.
D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000188:drug therapy; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D012076:Renal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012769:Shock / Q000188:drug therapy; D013903:Thoracic Surgery / Q000379:methods; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D006490:Hemostatics; D012076:Renal Agents; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014667:Vasopressins