Poor response to desmopressin acetate (DDAVP) in children with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome

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Abstract
Background Hermansky–Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a common genetic disorder in Puerto Rico. In children with HPS, bleeding is the most disturbing and incapacitating problem. Desmopressin (1‐deamino‐8‐D‐arginine vasopressin, (DDAVP)) has been recommended in the management of bleeding disorders characterized by platelet dysfunction, such as HPS. Methods Nineteen pediatric Puerto Rican patients with HPS and prolonged bleeding time (BT) were tested for response to administration of DDAVP. Results Baseline BT was abnormal in 18 (95%) of the patients. The BT following DDAVP administration improved in two cases (11%): one from 7.2 to 5.6 min and the other from 8 to 6 min (Tables II and III). BT measurements remained very prolonged (>15 min) in 17 (89%) of the patients. Patients with the HPS 1 gene mutation had a statistically significant correlation with the poor response following DDAVP (P = 0.03). Conclusions DDAVP seldom improves the BT of Puerto Rican children with HPS. Response to DDAVP should be determined individually and platelet transfusion should remain the treatment of choice for a major bleeding episode or surgical procedure.