Before the introduction of DDA VP, centrnl diabetes insipidus was treated by the administration of a more or less purified extract from bovine or porcine posterior pituitaries, and the prepamtions were mostly given in the form of nasal snuff. In 1956, the structure of vasopressin became known and two forms were found, namely arginine vasopressin (A VP) in humans and most other species, and lysine vasopressin (L VP) which was found in the pig. In 1967, Zaornl et al. were the frrst to synthesize l-desamino-8-D-arginine vasopressin, DDA VP. In comparison with the compounds which were previously available, DDA VP offered increased antidiuretic potency and an equally distinct shift of the antidiuretic to pressor potency rntio. As a result of the pioneering studies of Cash and Mannucci, numerous publications appeared in the medical literature of the 80's, widening the fields of clinical application of the drug. A very important aspect of this drug is that it can be used as an alternative treatment for mild factor VllI deficiencies, mild hemophilia A and von Willebrnnd's disease. These congenital deficiencies are far from mre and have, up to now, been treated with plasma-derived factor VIII concentrates; in the countries in which desmopressin has not been used a consistent proportion of these patients have seroconverted for HIV 1 and hepatitis.

Hemostatis and Desmopressin: Molecular Mechanisms of Cellular Responses to DDAVP; S. Hashemi, et al. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics of Desmopressin: Toxicity of Desmopressin and Related Peptides; L.B. Kinter, et al. Desmopressin in Renal Disease: Control of Bleeding in Uremic Patients; Y. Sultan. Desmopressin and Platelets: Desmopressin in the Treatment of Congenital and Acquired Defects of Platelet Function; M. Cattaneo, P.M. Mannucci. Desmopressin and Surgery: Desmopressin, von Willenbrand Factor, and Surgery; M. Weinstein. Desmopressin and Blood Donation: Effects of Desmopressin on Normal Donors in Plasma Exchange Donations; R.J. Sassetti, B.C. McLeod. Clinical Applications of Desmopressin in Hemophilia and von Willenbrand's Disease: Intravenous and Subcutaneous Desmopressin; M. Kohler, G. Mariani. SideEffects and Adverse Reactions of Desmopressin: DDAVP and Tachyphylaxis in Healthy Subjects; V. Vicente, et al. Recapitulation: General Recapitulation and Search for a Consensus; P.M. Mannucci, et al. 33 additional articles. Index.