Arginine vasopressin; Antidiuretic hormone; AVP; Vasopressin DefinitionAntidiuretic blood test measures the level of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in blood. How the Test is PerformedHow to Prepare for the TestTalk to your health care provider about your medicines before the test. Many medicines can affect ADH level, including:
How the Test will FeelWhen the needle is inserted to draw blood, some people feel moderate pain. Others feel only a prick or stinging. Afterward, there may be some throbbing or slight bruising. This soon goes away. Why the Test is PerformedADH is a hormone that is produced in a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. It is then stored and released from the pituitary, a small gland at the base of the brain. ADH acts on the kidneys to control the amount of water excreted in the urine. ADH blood test is ordered when your provider suspects you have a disorder that affects your ADH level such as:
Certain diseases affect the normal release of ADH. The blood level of ADH must be tested to determine the cause of the disease. ADH may be measured as part of a water restriction test to find the cause of a disease. Normal ResultsNormal values for ADH can range from 0 to 5.9 pg/mL (0 to 5.4 pmol/L). Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Some labs use different measurements or may test different specimens. Talk to your provider about the meaning of your specific test results. Most laboratories cannot run this test. Only very specialized laboratories can perform the assay correctly. Serum co-peptin is now commonly used as a substitute for measuring ADH. What Abnormal Results MeanA higher-than-normal level may occur when too much ADH is released, either from the brain where it is made or from somewhere else in the body. This is called the syndrome of inappropriate ADH (SIADH). Causes of SIADH include:
A higher-than-normal level of ADH may be found in people with heart failure, liver failure, or some kind of kidney disease. A lower-than-normal level may indicate:
RisksThere is little risk involved with having your blood taken. Veins and arteries vary in size from one person to another, and from one side of the body to the other. Taking blood from some people may be more difficult than from others. Other risks associated with having blood drawn are slight, but may include:
ReferencesFrasier LL, Keating JJ, Shiroff AM. Endocrine responses in critically ill and trauma patients. In: Shifrin AL, ed. Endocrine Emergencies. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25. Guber HA, Oprea M, Russell YX. Evaluation of endocrine function. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 25. Oh MS, Briefel G, Pincus MR. Evaluation of renal function, water, electrolytes, and acid-base balance. In: McPherson RA, Pincus MR, eds. Henry's Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods. 24th ed. St Louis, MO: Elsevier; 2022:chap 15. | |
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Review Date: 5/12/2023 Reviewed By: Sandeep K. Dhaliwal, MD, board-certified in Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Springfield, VA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. | |
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