Comparative Hemodynamic Measurements Including Tissue PO2 Measurements on the Liver under Vasopressin and Triglycyllysine Vasopressin

In 1979, our attention was drawn to the vasopressin derivative triglycyllysine vasopressin (TGLVP), which seemed to be well suited for the treatment of acute hemorrhage from esophageal piles. The drug Glycylpressin (Ferring Pharmaceuticals, Kiel) was introduced as a vasopressin derivative which has a selective effect on the visceral system lasting for more than several hours and without the side effects of vasopressin. Arguments against vasopressin treatment of acute esophageal pile hemorrhage included, first, cardiotoxic side effects, and, secondly, negative effects on the liver parenchyma, which is already damaged as a result of diminished arterial and venous perfusion. Korsback [3], for instance, reported an approximately 40% reduction of the partial oxygen pressure in the liver under intravenous vasopressin infusion: 37 mm Hg before vasopressin infusion and 20.5 mm Hg afterwards.