Subcutaneous Desmopressin (DDAVP) Shortens the Prolonged Bleeding Time in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis

Summary

The intravenous infusion of 1-deamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) shortens the prolonged bleeding time in patients with congenital or acquired bleeding disorders, including patients with uremia or liver cirrhosis. We carried out a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study in ten patients with liver cirrhosis to evaluate whether or not their prolonged bleeding times could be shortened by subcutaneous injections of DDAVP (0.3 μg/kg), a more practical route of administration than intravenous infusions. One hour after DDAVP injection the bleeding time was significantly shortened (p <0.05). After 4 h, however, the bleeding time shortening was no longer statistically significant. There was no bleeding time change after placebo. Plasma levels of von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF: Ag) did not significantly increase after DDAVP or placebo. The study shows that subcutaneous DDAVP is an alternative method for shortterm shortening of the bleeding time in liver cirrhosis.

• References

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