Evidence of defective tubular reabsorption and normal secretion of uric acid in the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone.

The mechanisms responsible for the increased renal clearance of uric acid in the syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) are not fully clarified. Studies using either pyrazinamide or probenecid, or both drugs but at an interval of several days, could not undoubtedly distinguish the 'hypersecretory theory' from the one favoring a defect in either post- or presecretory reabsorption. We decided to do a combined pyrazinamide and probenecid test in 5 patients with hyponatremia due to SIADH in order to evaluate more clearly the respective importance of these different pathways. Our results allow the conclusion of a diminished presecretory and mainly postsecretory reabsorption (80 +/- 4.6 and 14 +/- 3% of filtered load, respectively). As far as the secretion of uric acid is concerned (17 +/- 10% of filtered load), we may say that this pathway is adapted to the amount of hypouricemia.