Vasopressin deficiency decreases the frequency of gastroduodenal ulceration in humans

Vasopressin is a stress hormone released from the posterior pituitary. In h umans suffering from central diabetes insipidus, this release of vasopressi n is diminished. It was shown previously that the congenutally vasopressin- deficient Brattleboro homozygous rat is less sensitive to various ulcerogen ic stimuli. In this study, we investigated the incidence of gastroduodenal ulceration in vasopressin deficient patients. Data on patients aged 20-70, hospitalized in Hungary between 1992 and 1995 were compared with those on t he total population in this age group (6 681 020 in 1994). Subjects with ce ntral diabetes insipidus were selected separately (815 cases). Gastroduoden al ulceration was compared in subjects with an intact vasopressin release a nd vasopressin-deficient patients. The frequencies of gastroduodenal ulcera tion were also examined separately in male and female subjects. In the tota l population, the frequency of gastroduodenal ulceration was lower in vasop ressin-deficient cases (2.22% versus 0.61%; P < 0.005). Among normal-vasopr essin subjects, males have a higher risk of gastroduodenal ulceration than females (3.04% versus 1.46%, respectively; P < 0.001). Among vasopressin-de ficient subjects, a similar male:female ratio was observed, but it was not significant (P = 0.36). In comparison to the normal-vasopressin population, the incidence of gastroduodenal ulceration was reduced among vasopressin-d eficient males and females by 77% (P < 0.01) and by 82% (P < 0.05), respect ively. In conclusion, endogenous vasopressin has a significant harmful acti on towards the human gastroduodenal mucosa. Peptide and non-peptide vasopre ssin receptor antagonists might have a potential therapeutic benefit in the treatment (as an adjuvant) and prevention of gastroduodenal ulceration. (C ) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. Published by Editions scientifiques et medical es Elsevier SAS.