[The treatment of patients with diabetes insipidus by a synthetic analogue of vasopressin, DDAVP (author's transl)].

The effects of a synthetic analogue of vasopressin, DDAVP (1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin) were investigated in 98 patients with cranial diabetes insipidus. In all patients, intranasal administration of DDAVP one to three times daily, usually twice daily, was found to be satisfactory in the control of diabetes insipidus. Thus, by DDAVP administration, daily urinary volume changed from 3520 +/- 2150 ml to 1620 +/- 830 ml (mean +/- SD), and urinary osmolarity changed from 126 +/- 75 mOsm/kgH2O to 446 +/- 194 mOsm/kgH2O (mean +/- SD). A daily dose of DDAVP ranged from 2.0 to 20 microgram in children (average dose 12.8 microgram), while 10 to 20 microgram of DDAVP was usually required in adult patients (average dose 14.2 microgram). No serious side effects have been observed. It is concluded that DDAVP is safe and effective in the treatment of cranial diabetes insipidus.