The effects of desmopressin on hemostatic parameters in the normal dog

Seven normal unanesthetized dogs were infused with desmopressin in saline (doses 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 micrograms/kg i.v.) or saline alone, on separate occasions in order to determine the effects of desmopressin on circulating factor VIII coagulant and factor VIII-related antigen activities, on partial thromboplastin times and prothrombin times, on blood platelet count and packed cell volume, and on serum osmolarity. Desmopressin caused a rapid dose-dependent elevation in both factor VIII activities peaking at 30-60 minutes postinfusion. At a dosage of 0.6 microgram/kg desmopressin induced rises in factor VIII coagulant activity and factor VIII-related antigen of 150% and 198% of the preinfusion levels respectively, while the half disappearance times were approximately five and six hours respectively. The other parameters were not significantly affected by even the highest dose of desmopressin used. These results indicate that normal dogs respond to desmopressin in a manner similar to man. The major differences are in the dosage required to produce comparable effects (higher in dogs), and in the fact that the factor VIII-related antigen activity consistently responds to a greater degree than the coagulant activity. It is concluded that desmopressin may have particular value in stimulating elevations in plasma factor VIII-related antigen in dogs deficient in this plasma protein. Six dogs were pretreated with the endorphin inhibitor, naloxone, (0.04 mg/kg I.V.) or sterile saline, three minutes prior to infusion with desmopressin at a dose of 0.6 microgram/kg i.v.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)