DDAVP-induced enhancement of platelet retention: its dependence on platelet-von Willebrand factor and the platelet receptor GP IIb/IIIa.

Although DDAVP has been shown to be haemostatically efficacious in patients with various congenital or acquired platelet disorders, no reasonable explanation has been found for this effect. We have previously shown DDAVP to increase platelet adhesiveness as measured with a platelet retention test. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of action responsible for the increased platelet retention in response to DDAVP. Patients with vWD type III and type Ia, severe haemophilia and severe thrombasthenia, as well as healthy controls, were included in the study. The effect of different concentrations of vWF in plasma and platelets was explored, as was the effect on platelet function of apyrase and monoclonal antibodies against GP IIb/IIIa and GP Ib. We found the effect of DDAVP on platelet retention to be unaffected by changes in the plasma concentration of vWF. The enhanced platelet retention after DDAVP is apparently dependent on the presence of platelet-vWF and on a normal function of the GP IIb/IIIa. The effect is not mediated via ADP or thrombin. The platelet-stimulating effect of DDAVP may be one explanation for the positive haemostatic effect in patients with certain platelet disorders.