Fibrinolytic responses to 1-desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin in patients with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus.

Fibrinolytic responses to infusion of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine-vasopressin (DDAVP) were assessed in 6 males with congenital nephrogenic diabetes insipidus (NDI), 6 carriers of the NDI gene and 6 normal control subjects. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity and antigen increased significantly in normal subjects, while plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity decreased. None of these changes were observed in patients with NDI. In 2 female carriers, normal fibrinolytic responses were seen, while in the other carriers responses were delayed. These findings are consistent with the concept of a general V2-receptor defect in congenital NDI. DDAVP tests are of limited use in NDI carrier detection.