Use of desmopressin in the treatment of mild forms of hemophilia a and von Willebrand's disease
Vicente, V.; Alegre, A.; Alberca, I.
Medicina Clinica 88(9): 353-355
1987
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7753 PMID: 3494893 Document Number: 301781
One 0,4 .mu.g/kg dose of desmopressin was administered to seven patients with mild and moderate hemophilia A and to four patients with Von Willebrand's type I disease one hour before several invasive procedures. Eleven patients with hemophilia were treated, in comparable circumstances, with the intranasal administration of 260 .mu.g of the drug. In one patient with a circulating anti-FVIII inhibitor, the possible changes of the latter with the administration of desmopressin was studied. Immediately before the surgical procedures, remarkable increases in FVIII, that were higher with intravenous therapy, were detected. In all patients with Von Willebrands's disease the bleeding time returned to normal. Except in two patients with hemophilia, desmopressin was a good therapeutic measure that prevented the use of blood derivatives. Since it has been shown that the intranasal or intravenous administration of desmopressin is free from untoward effects, we think that this drug should play a significant role for the prophylaxis and therapy of the hemorrhagic accidents in mild and moderate forms of hemophilia A and Von Willebrand's disease type I. However, it does not improve the hemostatic status in patients with a moderate anti-FVIII inhibitor titer, and, therefore, it should not be used in these circustances.