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______is an osmotic diuretic used to reduce ICP

User Vmb
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Final answer:

Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic used to reduce intracranial pressure (ICP) and brain swelling after head injury. It facilitates water loss by osmosis and is often administered intravenously in medical settings. Sodium and fluid balance in the body play a significant role in conditions such as hypertension, which can be managed by diuretics.

Step-by-step explanation:

Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic commonly used to reduce intracranial pressure (ICP). Osmotic diuretics work by promoting water loss through osmosis. Mannitol is an indigestible sugar administered intravenously to reduce brain swelling after a head injury. Similarly, in poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, high glucose levels fail to be absorbed by tubular glucose symporters and result in glucose in the urine, which acts as an osmotic diuretic. Conversely, an increase in extracellular sodium can lead to hypertension due to its strong osmotic effect attracting water and increasing the total volume. Diuretics are widely used to manage conditions related to fluid balance, such as hypertension, by increasing urine volume, commonly through different mechanisms, like inhibiting reabsorption in the nephron.

User Eshalev
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Final answer:

Mannitol is an osmotic diuretic administered to reduce intracranial pressure (ICP), especially after head injuries. It works by promoting the excretion of water by creating an osmotic gradient in the kidneys. Mannitol is preferred for its effectiveness in reducing brain swelling but isn't the only substance with osmotic diuretic properties.

Step-by-step explanation:

The osmotic diuretic most commonly used to reduce intracranial pressure (ICP) is mannitol. Mannitol works by osmosis, drawing water out of the brain tissue and into the blood vessels, which then gets filtered out by the kidneys — effectively decreasing ICP. This can be crucial following a head injury to reduce brain swelling. It should be noted, however, that osmotic diuretics are not only limited to mannitol. For example, in cases of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, high glucose levels in the blood can overwhelm the kidney's reabsorption capacity leading to the excretion of glucose in the urine. This unrecovered glucose can then act as an osmotic diuretic. Nonetheless, mannitol remains the drug of choice for reducing ICP due to its effectiveness and mechanism of promoting water loss by creating an osmotic gradient in the kidneys.

Diuretics can be prescribed for various conditions such as managing blood pressure. They work by different mechanisms depending on the class of the diuretic. For instance, hydrochlorothiazide, used for hypertension, inhibits the Na/Cl symporter in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT) and the collecting duct, leading to an increase in the excretion of these ions along with water.

User Brian Donahue
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