Natriuresis Explained

Natriuresis is the process of sodium excretion in the urine through the action of the kidneys.^[1] It is promoted by ventricular and atrial natriuretic peptides as well as calcitonin,^[2] and inhibited by chemicals such as aldosterone. Natriuresis lowers the concentration of sodium in the blood and also tends to lower blood volume because osmotic forces drag water out of the body's blood circulation and into the urine along with the sodium. Many diuretic drugs take advantage of this mechanism to treat medical conditions like hypernatremia and hypertension, which involve excess blood volume.

Excess natriuresis can be caused by:

• Medullary cystic disease
• Bartter syndrome
• Diuretic phase of acute tubular necrosis
• Some diuretics
• Primary renal diseases
• Congenital adrenal hyperplasia
• Syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone hypersecretion

Endogenous natriuretic hormones include:

• Atrial natriuretic peptide
• Brain natriuretic peptide
• C-type natriuretic peptide^[3]

This is a natural process in infants at the time of birth.

References

Further reading

• 2002. Granger. JP. Alexander. BT. Llinas. M. Mechanisms of pressure natriuresis. 4. 2. 152–9. Current Hypertension Reports. 11884271. 10.1007/s11906-002-0040-3. 46323264 .
• Abnormal pressure natriuresis. A cause or a consequence of hypertension?. 1990. Hall. J. E.. Mizelle. H. L.. Hildebrandt. D. A.. Brands. M. W.. Hypertension. 15. 6_Pt_1. 547–59. 10.1161/01.HYP.15.6.547. 1971810. free.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Natriuresis. Merriam-Webster. 23 December 2013.
2. Boron, Walter F. and Boulpaep, Emile L. "Medical Physiology". Saunders, 2012, p.1108.
3. Levin ER, Gardner DG, Samson WK . Natriuretic peptides. The New England Journal of Medicine. 339. 5. 321–8. July 1998. 9682046. 10.1056/NEJM199807303390507.