ADH (Anti Diuretic Hormone Vasopressin)

Understanding ADH (Anti Diuretic Hormone Vasopressin)

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH), also known as vasopressin, is produced in the hypothalamus and released from the pituitary gland. Its main role is to maintain proper water balance in the body by acting on the kidneys to reduce water excretion. When the body needs to conserve water (such as during dehydration), ADH levels increase, prompting the kidneys to reabsorb more water into the bloodstream. Conversely, when water intake is adequate or excessive, ADH levels drop, allowing more water to be excreted in urine.

The A...

What does ADH (Anti Diuretic Hormone Vasopressin) measure?

The ADH (Anti Diuretic Hormone Vasopressin) test measures the amount of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the blood. This hormone helps control the body’s water balance by regulating how much water the kidneys conserve. The test helps diagnose conditions related to abnormal water retention or loss, such as diabetes insipidus (passing large amounts of dilute urine) or the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion (SIADH), where the body makes too much ADH, causing low sodium.