Fibrinolytic and haemostatic responses to desamino-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) administered by intravenous and subcutaneous routes in healthy subjects.

DDAVP was administered at 0.4 microgram kg-1 intravenous (i.v.) and subcutaneous (s.c.) routes to 6 healthy subjects in a double blind crossover study. Both study treatments were well tolerated. Flushing occurred after both treatments but was more prominent after i.v. than after s.c. DDAVP. Mild transient local discomfort at the s.c. injection site occurred in 5 of 6 subjects. The mean peak factor VIII (FVIII) response was 369% and 247% of baseline after i.v. and s.c. DDAVP respectively and the maximum increase in FVIII occurred earlier with the i.v. route. Changes in FVIII antigen (FVIII:Ag) and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF:Ag) were also monitored. Tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) activity measured by a chromogenic assay employing soluble fibrin had a median peak value of 2.9 IU ml-1 at 20 min after i.v. and of 1.9 IU ml-1 at 60 min after s.c. DDAVP. t-PA antigen was also measured so that the specific activity of circulating t-PA could be determined. Preinjection median values of 14,650 and 13,700 IU mg-1 increased to peak median values of 236,200 IU mg-1 at 20 min after i.v. and 202,400 IU mg-1 at 60 min after s.c. DDAVP. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) activity fell following DDAVP and became undetectable in some subjects during the sampling period. The ratio of maximum fibrinolytic response was similar to the ratio of maximum haemostatic responses obtained by two routes of injection. Our results indicate that s.c. DDAVP might successfully replace i.v. DDAVP in several applications such as confirmation of haemostatic or fibrinolytic responsiveness in patient groups; for obtaining FVIII enriched plasma; as well as its obvious potential usefulness in home treatment of haemophilia A and von Willebrand's disease.