Pituitary Hormone, Synthetic
PREGNANCY RECOMMENDATION: Limited Human Data—Animal Data Suggest Low Risk
BREASTFEEDING RECOMMENDATION: Compatible
PREGNANCY SUMMARY
Desmopressin is a synthetic polypeptide structurally related to vasopressin. Although the data are limited, no drug-induced toxicity related to its use in pregnancy has been reported. (See also Vasopressin.)
FETAL RISK SUMMARY
Reproduction studies with desmopressin in rats and rabbits at doses up to approximately 0.1 times and 38 times, respectively, the maximum systemic human exposure based on BSA, did not reveal fetal harm (1).
A 1997 report described five women with diabetes insipidus that were treated with desmopressin during six pregnancies (2). No desmopressin-related adverse effects were observed in the eight newborns (two sets of twins). A 1998 review cited 53 cases of desmopressin use during all stages of pregnancy for the management of diabetes insipidus (3). No adverse effects were noted in the cases. In a 1998 case report, diabetes insipidus in a woman with Sheehan’s syndrome was managed with intranasal desmopressin in two pregnancies (4). No information on the status of the newborns was provided.
BREASTFEEDING SUMMARY
See Vasopressin.
References
1.Product information. DDAVP. Rhone-Poulenc Rorer Pharmaceuticals, 2000.
2.Hamai Y, Fujii T, Nishina H, Kozuma S, Yoshikawa H, Taketani Y. Differential clinical courses of pregnancies complicated by diabetes insipidus which does, or does not, pre-date the pregnancy. Hum Reprod 1997;12:1816–8.
3.Ray JG. DDAVP use during pregnancy: an analysis of its safety for mother and child. Obstet Gynecol Surv 1998;53:450–5.
4.Briet JW. Diabetes insipidus, Sheehan’s syndrome and pregnancy. Eur J Obstet Gynecol 1998;77:201–3.