-\def\descref#1{\@ifnextchar[{\descref@i{#1}}{\descref@ii{#1}{}}}
-\def\descref@i#1[#2]{\descref@ii{#1}{ #2}}
-\def\descref@ii#1#2#3{%
+\def\descref{\@ifstar%
+ {\descref@i{}\@gobble{}}%
+ {\descref@i{ (}{\noexpand\autopageref}{)}}}
+\def\descref@i#1#2#3#4#5{\@ifnextchar@preserve[%
+ {\descref@ii{#1}{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}}%
+ {\descref@iii{#1}{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{}}}
+\def\descref@ii#1#2#3#4#5[#6]{\descref@iii{#1}{#2}{#3}{#4}{#5}{ #6}}
+\def\descref@iii#1#2#3#4#5#6{%