title: Desmopressin therapy for massive hemoptysis associated with severe leptospirosis.
abstract: Massive hemoptysis in patients with severe leptospirosis is often resistant to conventional therapies and can rapidly become fatal. Desmopressin is a fast-acting blood-saving agent used in various hereditary and acquired clotting disorders. We used desmopressin infusions to treat massive pulmonary hemorrhage in six leptospirosis patients with respiratory failure, shock, and multiple organ dysfunction. Hemoptysis ceased rapidly in every case, and five patients finally recovered. Two additional patients with less severe hemoptysis were also successfully treated.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care and Clinical Biology Units, Centre Hospitalier Territorial, Papeete, Tahiti.
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pea
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Roda
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Boussaud
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lonjon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006469:Hemoptysis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D006490:Hemostatics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D010976:Platelet Count; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D012128:Respiratory Distress Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014895:Weil Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins; D006490:Hemostatics; D012964:Sodium; D003894:Deamino Arginine Vasopressin