Haemostatic responses to desmopressin acetate after primary coronary artery bypass surgery

Previous studies have suggested that the administration of desmopressin (DDAVP) may reduce blood loss after cardiac surgery. The present double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial was performed to determine the effect of DDAVP on haemostasis during and after primary coronary artery bypass surgery. Fifteen patients received an infusion of DDAVP 0.3 microgram/kg and 15 patients received a placebo infusion over 15 min after cardiopulmonary bypass. Following DDAVP administration, the increase in factor VIII:C plasma level was greater than after placebo (the increase at 90 min after treatment 1.10 +/- 0.11 vs. 0.45 +/- 0.09 IU/ml, P less than 0.01). A difference between the treatments tended to occur also in the increase of von Willebrand antigen (0.64 +/- 0.08 vs. 0.23 +/- 0.07 IU/ml, P = 0.0556). A detailed evaluation of various haemostatic parameters showed no significant changes towards hypercoagulability or fibrinolysis. Inspite of the observed potential haemostatic effect of DDAVP, patients treated with DDAVP and placebo had similar postoperative blood losses (950 +/- 185 vs. 1034 +/- 321 ml), similar total haemoglobin losses (45.9 +/- 11.1 vs. 54.7 +/- 25.9 g) and similar red cell transfusion requirements (1.3 (range 0-2) vs. 1.1 (range 0-3) units). The plasma concentrations of factor F VIII:C and von Willebrand factor antigen after cardiopulmonary bypass may explain the failure to achieve a therapeutic effect with DDAVP.