Pulsatile release of arginine vasopressin (AVP) and it's effect on response to desmopressin in enuresis
Wood, C.M.; Butler, R.J.; Penney, M.D.; Holland, P.C.
Scandinavian Journal of Urology and Nephrology. Supplementum 163: 93-101
1994
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-8886 PMID: 7878390 Document Number: 422921
A response to desmopressin spray is only seen in a proportion of children with enuresis. To investigate whether response is related to nocturnal levels of arginine vasopressin (AVP) 35 children with enuresis, aged 8 to 14 years, had plasma AVP measurements overnight before entering a double blind randomised, placebo controlled crossover study to assess their response to evening treatment with desmopressin spray. There was no significant difference seen between nocturnal AVP levels obtained from children who responded to desmopressin and those who did not. Frequent sampling in six children demonstrated a pulsatile pattern of secretion for AVP. This has implications for studies of nocturnal AVP levels, and questions the validity of using infrequent measurements of AVP to assess it's secretion.