A 79-year-old female presents to the GP complaining of marked thirst, drinking 3-4 litres of water daily, associated with polyuria. | Medibuddy
4th April 2024

A 79-year-old female presents to the GP complaining of marked thirst, drinking 3-4 litres of water daily, associated with polyuria.

A 79-year-old female presents to the GP complaining of marked thirst, drinking 3-4 litres of water daily, associated with polyuria. She wakes once nightly to pass urine. She denies any weight loss, weakness, or muscle cramps. She has recently begun taking senna twice daily but still strains to pass stool. She feels fatigued and struggles to climb the two flights of stairs to her flat. She reports poor sleep. 

Initial investigations reveal the following:

Result Reference range
Hb 118 g/L 115-160 g/L
MCV 82 fl 82-100 fl
WCC 5.1 x 10⁹/L 4.0-11.0 x 10⁹/L
Na 137 mmol/L 135-145 mmol/L
K 4.1 mmol/L 3.5-5.0 mmol/l
Cr 89 umol/L 55-120 umol/l
Urea 6.1 mmol/L 2.0-7 mmol/l
eGFR 67 ml/min/1.73m² >90 ml/min/1.73m²
AdjCa 3.01 mmol/L 2.1-2.6 mmol/L
Phosphate 0.69 mmol/L 0.8-1.4 mmol/L
PTH 5.1 pmol/L 0.9-5.4 pmol/L
HbA1c 41 mmol/mol <42 mmol/mol

Her urine dipstick is negative for nitrites, leucocytes, ketones and protein. Urine electrolytes were also normal. What is the likely diagnosis?

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