Failure of sodium pentobarbital anesthesia to alter 1-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin-induced elevations of plasma factor VIII/ von Willebrand factor in normal dogs.

The vasopressin analog 1-desamino-8-D-arginine stimulates elevations in plasma Factor VIII/ von Willebrand factor in normal dogs. In order to study the effects of general anesthesia on this response, six dogs were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital or given an equivalent amount of saline then challenged with an intravenous dose of 1-desamino-8-D-arginine (0.6 micrograms/kg body weight). Factor VIII coagulant activity, von Willebrand factor antigen, and ristocetin cofactor activity were quantitated before anesthesia (or saline infusion), 20 min after induction (pre-1-desamino-8-D-arginine), and at 30 and 60 min post-1-desamino-8-D-arginine. Anesthesia did not significantly affect the elevations in plasma Factor VIII/ von Willebrand factor induced by 1-desamino-8-D-arginine. Sodium pentobarbital appeared however to prevent the rise in Factor VIII coagulant activity seen following saline treatment. The results of this study suggest that when 1-desamino-8-D-arginine is to be used in normal dogs to boost basal plasma von Willebrand factor levels, it is not necessary to administer it prior to induction of general anesthesia with sodium pentobarbital.