title: Lixivaptan: a novel vasopressin receptor antagonist.
abstract: Arginine vasopressin, also known as antidiuretic hormone, is a neuropeptide that functions in the maintenance of body water homeostasis. Inappropriate secretion of vasopressin has been implicated in the pathophysiology of multiple diseases, including polycystic kidney disease, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone (SIADH) secretion, and the hyponatremia commonly associated with cirrhosis and congestive heart failure. Vasopressin receptor antagonists are novel agents that block the physiologic actions of vasopressin. Lixivaptan is a vasopressin receptor antagonist with high V2 receptor affinity and is now undergoing Phase III clinical trials. Studies so far have demonstrated that lixivaptan is efficacious in the correction of hyponatremia in SIADH, heart failure and liver cirrhosis with ascites, and few adverse effects have been noted. Thus, lixivaptan remains a promising therapeutic modality for the treatment of multiple diseases and prevention of the associated morbidity and mortality associated with hyponatremia.
authors.affiliation: University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Niloofar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nobakht
authors.forename: Vito M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Campese
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001549:Benzamides / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic / Q000379:methods; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D011758:Pyrroles; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin / Q000378:metabolism*; D001569:Benzodiazepines
chemical_list: D065092:Antidiuretic Hormone Receptor Antagonists; D001381:Azepines; D001549:Benzamides; D011758:Pyrroles; D017483:Receptors, Vasopressin; C409452:lixivaptan; D001569:Benzodiazepines