title: Oral desmopressin treatment of central diabetes insipidus in children.
abstract: To assess the efficacy of treatment with oral desmopressin (DDAVP), 20 patients, aged 5-20 y, with central diabetes insipidus were studied during 3 d of hospitalization and for 3 months at the outpatient clinic. At baseline the median rate of diuresis was 12.7 ml kg-1 h-1. Urinary output decreased significantly under treatment with an increase in urinary osmolality, normalization of plasma osmolality and absence of nocturia. Patients were discharged from hospital with a median dose of 500 micrograms d-1 (100-1200 micrograms d-1). An adjustment in dosage was necessary in seven patients during follow-up, resulting in a final dose of 600 micrograms d-1. Body weight and DDAVP doses (r = 0.75, p = 0.001) and body surface and DDAVP doses (r = 0.72, p < 0.001) were significantly correlated. The average dosage was 474 +/- 222 micrograms m-2 d-1 (mean +/- SD). The oral DDAVP treatment remained effective during the 3 months of follow-up. This therapy offers an alternative for the treatment of central diabetes insipidus in children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, CEDIE, Hospital de Niños Dr Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Boulgourdjian
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Ropelato
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bergadá
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003919:Diabetes Insipidus / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin