argipressin--des-glynh2(9)- and Alcohol-Amnestic-Disorder

Intranasal treatment with desglycinamide9-(Arg8)-vasopressin (DGAVP) improved certain aspects of cognitive functions of patients with acquired and congenital diabetes insipidus and of alcoholic patients with mild cognitive impairments. Patients with Korsakoff's syndrome, presenting with severe cognitive impairments, were resistent to DGVP treatment. DGAVP treatment did not affect blood pressure and water metabolism. The action of DGAVP on cognitive functions is probably mediated by centrally located target sites and may be expressed only in patients in whom these target sites are unimpaired.

Topics: Administration, Intranasal; Adult; Aged; Alcohol Amnestic Disorder; Alcoholism; Arginine Vasopressin; Clinical Trials as Topic; Cognition; Diabetes Insipidus; Double-Blind Method; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Psychological Tests

The effect of desglycinamide9-[Arg8]-vasopressin (DGAVP) on memory processes was studied in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome. Intranasal treatment with DGAVP for 7 days affected neither attention nor short- and long-term memories. It is suggested that treatment with DGAVP is not indicated for all types of memory disorders, and that the beneficial effect of this treatment may depend on the integrity of certain brain structures.

Topics: Aged; Alcohol Amnestic Disorder; Arginine Vasopressin; Attention; Drug Evaluation; Female; Humans; Male; Memory; Middle Aged