Vasopressin and Hemostasis

Abstract

Some rather unexpected extrarenal efects of AVP to improve blood clotting processes have been reported by Mannucci et al. (1975, 1981). Also, it has been noted that the V2 agonist dDAVP has a similar activity (Table 10.1). As could be expected, these reports gave a major impetus to efforts to apply the hemostatic effects of vasopressin to the treatment of various bleeding disorders. Patients with significant coagulation defects need blood derivates rich in the respective factor they lack during bleeding episodes or, prophylactically, during surgery. The limited supply of blood products but mainly the risk of infection with transmissible agents such as non-A, non-B hepatitis and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) made the search for reasonable alternatives to treatment with blood products imperative. As a result of this effort, dDAVP has now become a safe and effective alternative to the use of blood products for individuals with mild to moderate hemophilia A, in many subjects with von Willebrand’s disease as well as in those with various forms of secondary bleeding disorders (Mannucci et al. 1977, Lusher and Warnier 1984, Kobrinsky et al. 1984).