Storage of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in tissues following long-term treatment with a PVP-containing vasopressin preparation.

The parenteral use of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) leads to PVP retention in the human organism. Four case histories dealing with patients on long-term treatment with a PVP-containing vasopressin preparation are presented and the possibility of a harmful effect of the PVP storage is discussed. The presence of PVP in serum, demonstrated by lipoprotein electrophoresis, is described. Based on the literature and the present findings, a withdrawal of PVP-containing preparations for injectional purposes is advocated.