The relationship between plasma concentrations of desmopressin and clotting factors Factor VIII:C (FVIII:C) and von Willebrand Factor (vWF) were explored after a single 15-minute intravenous infusion of desmopressin (0.3 microg/kg) to 28 healthy male subjects. Individual plasma desmopressin-vWF and desmopressin-FVIII:C concentration/response-time data were fitted to a pharmacodynamic sigmoid E ( max ) model linked to a two-compartment open pharmacokinetic model (Ke0 link). The model demonstrated that the onset rate of pharmacodynamic activity for FVIII:C and vWF was relatively rapid following intravenous administration. However, the offset rate of pharmacodynamic activity was rate-limited by the elimination rate of desmopressin. Mean maximum pharmacodynamic activity for both factors was estimated to be three- to four-times higher than baseline activity, and the mean desmopressin concentrations that produce half-maximal effects were approximately 250 to 300 pg/mL. Interindividual variation in pharmacodynamic-parameter estimates were of the magnitude that suggests a wide range of pharmacodynamic responses are possible for a fixed desmopressin dose.