Subcutaneous desmopressin (DDAVP) shortens the prolonged bleeding time in patients with liver cirrhosis.
The intravenous infusion of 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) shortens the prolonged bleeding time in patients with congenital or acquired bleeding disorders, including patients with uremia or liver cirrhosis. We carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in ten patients with liver cirrhosis to evaluate whether or not their prolonged bleeding times could be shortened by subcutaneous injections of DDAVP (0.3 microgram/kg), a more practical route of administration than intravenous infusions. One hour after DDAVP injection the bleeding time was significantly shortened (p less than 0.05). After 4 h, however, the bleeding time shortening was no longer statistically significant. There was no bleeding time change after placebo. Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) did not significantly increase after DDAVP or placebo. The study shows that subcutaneous DDAVP is an alternative method for short-term shortening of the bleeding time in liver cirrhosis.
Cattaneo
M
M
A. Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Maggiore Hospital, Milano, Italy.
Tenconi
P M
PM
Alberca
I
I
Garcia
V V
VV
Mannucci
P M
PM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000941:Antigens / Q000097:blood; D001760:Bleeding Time; D002648:Child; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D000941:Antigens; C029417:Von Willebrand antigen; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin