Definition of Polyuria

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Polyuria: The excessive passage of urine (at least 2.5 liters per day for an adult) resulting in profuse urination and urinary frequency (the need to urinate frequently).

Polyuria is a classic sign of diabetes mellitus that is under poor control or is not yet under treatment. Polyuria occurs in some other conditions such as:

• Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus -- a genetic disease
• Polycystic kidney disease -- another genetic disease
• Sickle cell disease
• Pyelonephritis -- infection of kidneys
• Amyloidosis -- deposits of a substance called amyloid in the kidney
• Sjogren syndrome, and
• Myeloma.

Certain drugs such as the mood stabilizer lithium (Lithobid, Eskalith) and the antibiotic demeclocycline (Declomycin) can also lead to polyuria.

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