Vasopressin and platelets: a concise review.
Arginine vasopressin (AVP or vasopressin) is a neurophypophyseal peptide hormone with both vasopressor and antidiuretic properties. This review will briefly discuss the chemistry and physiology of AVP, with the main focus being on AVP and the hemostatic system. Recent data on the effects of AVP, and its analogues, on platelet function will be highlighted. AVP-induced platelet activation could explain, in part, the benefit seen with AVP infusions in gastrointestinal bleeding. These data also suggest that AVP may have a role in physiologic hemostasis and platelet activation.
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UC Davis Cancer Center, 4501 X Street, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.