This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Novak, S. Articles by Greenwood, R. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Novak, S. Articles by Greenwood, R. Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Patterns of urine flow and electrolyte excretion in patients following traumatic brain injury

Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit, Homerton Hospital, London — King's College Hospital (Dulwich), East Dulwich Grove, London SE22 8PT, UK

Richard Greenwood

Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit, Homerton Hospital, London

This study was conducted to determine how commonly, following a traumatic brain injury (TBI), patients might lose their circadian rhythm of urine production and to explore possible causes. In health, an adult would be expected to have a daytime rate of urine production twice that of the night. Seven patients, all more than three months post-TBI, who were either continent or in whom continence could be achieved by use of an external device (convene) were investigated. For each patient, over a five-day period, the mean daytime and night-time rates of urine production were measured. These values were expressed as a ratio. In three of the seven patients this ratio did not differ significantly from 1, suggesting that they had lost their normal circadian rhythm of urine production. Screening of pituitary function implicated hypothalamic dysfunction in six of the seven patients, offering a possible explanation for the loss of circadian rhythm seen.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. Novak Treatment with desmopressin in nocturia and nocturnal enuresis following traumatic brain injury Clinical Rehabilitation, February 1, 1996; 10(1): 32 - 34. [Abstract] [PDF]