- Source: Natriuresis
Natriuresis is the process of sodium excretion in the urine through the action of the kidneys. It is promoted by ventricular and atrial natriuretic peptides as well as calcitonin, 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
This is a natural process in infants at the time of birth.
References
Further reading
Granger, JP; Alexander, BT; Llinas, M (2002). "Mechanisms of pressure natriuresis". Current Hypertension Reports. 4 (2): 152–9. doi:10.1007/s11906-002-0040-3. PMID 11884271. S2CID 46323264.
Hall, J. E.; Mizelle, H. L.; Hildebrandt, D. A.; Brands, M. W. (1990). "Abnormal pressure natriuresis. A cause or a consequence of hypertension?". Hypertension. 15 (6_Pt_1): 547–59. doi:10.1161/01.HYP.15.6.547. PMID 1971810.