Serum Copeptin Rises After Tolvaptan for Hyponatraemia, but Does Not Predict Risk of Rapid Sodium Rise: Pre‐Specified Secondary Analysis of the TVFR Trial

Objective

Hyponatraemia is a common electrolyte disorder often driven by excess arginine vasopressin (AVP). Copeptin is a stable surrogate marker co‐secreted with AVP. It is unclear whether treatment of hyponatraemia with tolvaptan, an AVP‐V2 receptor antagonist, impacts copeptin. We aimed to assess the effects of tolvaptan on serum copeptin, compared to fluid restriction.

Design

Pre‐specified secondary analysis of an open‐label randomised trial comparing tolvaptan or fluid restriction for 3 days.

Patients

Hospitalised patients with plasma sodium (pNa) 115–130 mmol/L at a single‐centre tertiary hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Measurements

Copeptin measured at baseline and completion (Day 4, or discharge if sooner).

Results

Copeptin results were available in 45/54 participants, randomised to tolvaptan ( n  = 25) or FR ( n  = 20). Mean baseline copeptin was 10.4 pmol/L. pNa increased in both groups, significantly more with tolvaptan as previously reported. Copeptin remained stable after FR, but significantly increased after tolvaptan (mean adjusted difference between groups over 3 days 8.4 pmol/L, 95% CI 2.1–14.6, p  = 0.01). Baseline copeptin did not predict rapid sodium rise.

The rise in copeptin after tolvaptan may represent an exaggerated response to osmolality rise in these patients (‘reset osmostat’), or feedback mechanisms from AVP blockade.

Conclusion

Tolvaptan increased serum copeptin compared to fluid restriction. Further research is required to determine if there is clinical utility for measuring copeptin in hyponatraemia before it is adopted into practice.

Trial Registration: ACTRN12619001683123.