[Dynamic study on plasma antidiuretic hormone before and after surgery for lung cancers]

Plasma antidiuretic hormone (ADH) was assayed before and after surgery for lung cancers. The results showed that the plasma ADH in the control group was 11.6 +/- 4.8 pg/ml in contrast to higher levels in the lung cancer patients. The ADH level was highest in patients with small cell anaplastic cancer (SCAC), and in decreasing order, adenocarcinoma, mixed cell type carcinoma and lowest in squamous cell carcinoma. The ADH levels in all patients were reduced postoperatively from one week to three months when they approached the control level. One year later, ADH became elevated again in those who developed recurrence as compared with those clinically free of the disease. The difference was most significant in patients suffering from SCAC (P < 0.05-0.001). The authors believe that ADH assay may be useful in the diagnosis, assessment of treatment and monitor or prognosis in lung cancers.