Desmopressin therapy in children and adults: pharmacological considerations and clinical implications.

PURPOSE: This review aims to provide prescribing clinicians a deeper appreciation of desmopressin's clinical indications and formulation types, to better balance efficacy and safety through proper formulation selection. BACKGROUND: Since its discovery 50 years ago, desmopressin's antidiuretic properties have been used for central diabetes insipidus, primary monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis and adult nocturnal polyuria, while its coagulant effects are useful for mild hemophilia A and von Willebrand Disease. During this time, newer formulations of desmopressin have also been introduced to the market raising questions on interchangeability, dose conversion and safety. The wide array of clinical indications and variable pharmacokinetic properties of different desmopressin preparations raises the possibility of medication error, especially the risk of hyponatraemia. METHODOLOGY: A narrative review to explore clinically relevant aspects of desmopressin therapy, synthesising information obtained from searches of published literature. RESULTS: We identified that the risk factors for developing hyponatremia include extremes of age, existing comorbidity, drug interaction, intranasal formulations and intercurrent illness. We describe the dose equivalence between all formulations to facilitate conversion. We highlight that in view of inter-subject variability, close monitoring is recommended when switching preparations. We found that paediatric data remains limited, leading to recent proposals for age- and weight-based dosing regimens. CONCLUSION: The risk of hyponatremia, albeit small, can be reduced by adhering to the indication-specific doses and taking steps to govern the safe prescription of the drug. Further paediatric clinical trials are awaited to expand the evidence base of childhood desmopressin therapy.

Influence of red blood cell indices on HbA1c performance in detecting dysglycaemia in a Singapore preconception cohort study.

Abnormalities of red blood cell (RBC) indices may affect glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. We assessed the influence of haemoglobin (Hb) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) on the performance of HbA1c in detecting dysglycaemia among reproductive aged women planning to conceive. Women aged 18-45 years (n = 985) were classified as normal (12 ≤ Hb ≤ 16 g/dL and 80 ≤ MCV ≤ 100 fL) and abnormal (Hb < 12 g/dL and/or MCV < 80 fL). The Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic (AUROC) curve was used to determine the performance of HbA1c in detecting dysglycaemic status (prediabetes and diabetes). There were 771 (78.3%) women with normal RBC indices. The AUROCs for the normal and abnormal groups were 0.75 (95% confidence interval 0.69, 0.81) and 0.80 (0.70, 0.90), respectively, and were not statistically different from one another [difference 0.04 (- 0.16, 0.08)]. Further stratification by ethnicity showed no difference between the two groups among Chinese and Indian women. However, Malay women with normal RBC indices displayed lower AUROC compared to those with abnormal RBC indices (0.71 (0.55, 0.87) vs. 0.98 (0.93, 1.00), p = 0.002). The results suggest that the performance of HbA1c in detecting dysglycaemia was not influenced by abnormal RBC indices based on low Hb and/or low MCV. However, there may be ethnic variations among them.

MIRAGE Syndrome Caused by a De Novo c.3406G>C (p. Glu1136Gln) Mutation in the SAMD9 Gene Presenting With Neonatal Adrenal Insufficiency and Recurrent Intussusception: A Case Report.

Introduction: Primary adrenal insufficiency (PAI) presenting in the neonatal period can be life threatening and requires early recognition, diagnosis, and management. PAI due to adrenal hypoplasia (syndromic/non-syndromic) is a rare disorder. MIRAGE is a recently described syndrome with PAI and multisystem involvement. Case Presentation: A preterm female neonate presenting with PAI and persistent severe thrombocytopenia was diagnosed to have MIRAGE syndrome due to a de novo pathogenic variant c.3406G>C (p. Glu1136Gln) in the SAMD9 gene. In the first year of life, she had recurrent respiratory and gastrointestinal infection causing failure to thrive. At 17 months, she suffered recurrent intussusception requiring treatment with parenteral nutrition and high-dose steroids. Subsequently, she established oral feeds with hydrolysed formula and demonstrated good weight gain. Conclusion: In neonates presenting with PAI and associated multisystem involvement, a thoughtful approach and genetic testing is valuable in discerning an etiological diagnosis. This case of MIRAGE adds to the spectrum of reported cases and is the first to report on recurrent intussusception and its management with high-dose steroids.

Bridging the Needs of Adolescent Diabetes Care During COVID-19: A Nurse-Led Telehealth Initiative.

Amidst the unprecedented global pandemic of COVID-19, attending to the needs of adolescents with diabetes mellitus became more challenging. They faced the uncertainty of access to care and the attendant problems of a lockdown. We present the nurse-led telehealth initiative for adolescents with diabetes mellitus, leveraging on existing infrastructure and resources with the aim of addressing the anticipated challenges that many of the adolescents might face. The initiative was well received among those who participated, and there were no significant adverse effects noted.