Description:
To assess the efficacy of treatment with oral desmopressin (DDAVP), 20 patients, aged 5–20 y, with central diabetes insipidus were studied during 3 d of hospitalization and for 3 months at the outpatient clinic. At baseline the median rate of diuresis was 12. 7 ml kg‐1 h‐1. Urinary output decreased significantly under treatment with an increase in urinary osmolality, normalization of plasma osmolality and absence of nocturia. Patients were discharged from hospital with a median dose of 500μg d‐1 (100–1200μg d‐1). An adjustment in dosage was necessary in seven patients during follow‐up, resulting in a final dose of 600μg d‐1. Body weight and DDAVP doses (r= 0. 75, p= 0. 001) and body surface and DDAVP doses (r= 0. 72, p < 0. 001) were significantly correlated. The average dosage was 474 ± 222μg m‐2 d‐1 (mean ± SD). The oral DDAVP treatment remained effective during the 3 months of follow‐up. This therapy offers an alternative for the treatment of central diabetes insipidus in children.