Desmopressin increases IGF-binding protein-1 in humans.

CONTEXT: IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) is essential for IGF-I bioavailability. High levels of IGFBP-1 are encountered in critically ill patients and are a good predictor marker in acute myocardial infarction. The mechanisms responsible for the elevated IGFBP-1 levels in these conditions are still unclear. Interestingly, high levels of vasopressin have been reported in the above-mentioned conditions. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of vasopressin on IGFBP-1 in humans. DESIGN: Placebo-controlled cross-over study in patients with central diabetes insipidus (CDI) in whom potential interference from endogenous vasopressin secretion is minimized. After a 3-day desmopressin washout period, each patient received i.v. saline on day 1 and desmopressin (3 mug) on day 2. Blood samples were taken after administration, every 2 h during the whole night, starting at 2000 h. PATIENTS AND SETTING: Fourteen inpatients with CDI in an endocrinology department of a university hospital. RESULTS: Serum IGFBP-1 increased within 4 h after 1-desamino-8-d-arginine vasopressin (DDAVP) by 375+/-73%, compared with a spontaneous fasting increase by 252+/-46% following placebo administration (P<0.05). No changes were registered in the levels of either classically regulators of IGFBP-1 (insulin, glucagon, and cortisol) or of IGF-I and glucose. The decrease in plasma osmolarity induced by DDAVP did not precede the increase in IGFBP-1. CONCLUSIONS: DDAVP increases serum levels of IGFBP-1. Further investigation is essential to unravel the clinical potential of this interaction in conditions associated with high IGFBP-1 levels.

The influence of vasopressin deficiency and acute desmopressin administration on melatonin secretion in patients with central diabetes insipidus.

Melatonin secretion is modulated by the light-dark schedule, mainly through a sympathetic input to the pineal gland. Besides this, arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been found in the pineal glands of several animal species and there is experimental evidence that AVP modulates melatonin secretion in animals. However, the interaction between vasopressin and melatonin secretion in humans has not been systematically investigated. We proposed to study the nocturnal melatonin pattern in patients with central diabetes insipidus (CDI) who lack endogenous secretion of AVP, and the effect on their melatonin secretion of the agonist for V2 type receptors: desmopressin (1-Desamino [8-D Arginine] vasopressin). Plasma melatonin levels were measured in 14 patients with CDI, every 2 h starting from 22:00 h until 06:00 h, following iv injection of saline (day 1) and 3 microg desmopressin (day 2) at 20:00 h. The lights were turned off at 22:30 h and the samples were taken in a dim light. The plasma melatonin secretion pattern was normal in patients with CDI. Desmopressin at a dose 3 times higher than the antidiuretic one did not modify the melatonin levels or the time of the peak secretion. In conclusion melatonin secretion is not modulated by AVP in humans.