Ectopic ADH secretion

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ADH is anti-diuretic hormone produced naturally by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary gland. An anti-diuretic reduces the amount of water your body eliminates.

Ectopic ADH secretion is the release of ADH from an abnormal location within the body. (Ectopic means "unnatural.") The abnormal release of the hormone decreases the body's ability to eliminate water, causing fluid to build-up in the body. Hyponatremia (low sodium in your blood) can result.

The most common cause of ectopic ADH secretion is cancer. See also syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH) and the ADH test.

Review Date: 08/01/2005
Reviewed By: Nikheel S. Kolatkar, MD, Clinical and Research Fellow, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Hypertension, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.