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Vasopressin Treats the Persistent Feeling of Coldness After Brain Injury

Received May 4, 1998; revised June 29, 1998; accepted July 21, 1998. From New York University School of Medicine; Lenox Hill Hospital; and Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, New York. Address correspondence to Dr. Silver, Lenox Hill Outpatient Center for Mental Health, 1430 Second Avenue, Suite 103, New York, NY 10021; e-mail: Jonsilver{at}aol.com

In this pilot study, 6 patients who complained of persisting coldness after brain injury were treated with intranasal vasopressin (DDAVP) twice daily for 1 month. Response was assessed after 1 month of treatment, DDAVP was discontinued, and response was reassessed 1 month later. Five of the 6 patients had a dramatic response to DDAVP, as soon as 1 week after initiating treatment, and no longer complained of feeling cold. Response persisted even after discontinuation of treatment. Patients denied any side effects from treatment with DDAVP. The experience of persisting coldness can respond dramatically to brief treatment with intranasal DDAVP. The authors discuss possible mechanisms of action to explain this phenomenon.

Key Words: Traumatic Brain Injury • Vasopressin • Coldness After Brain Injury

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