[Long-term treatment of acromegaly and gigantism with octreotide (SMS 201-995)].

Abstract

Twenty-one patients with active acromegaly and two patients with pituitary gigantism were treated with the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide (100-600 micrograms/day, sc, two or three times daily or 300-1500 micrograms daily by intermittent sc infusion) for 9-63 months. There was rapid clinical improvement. The fasting plasma GH levels were significantly suppressed (less than 50% of the values before treatment) in 17 patients and were normalized (less than 5 ng/ml) in 6 patients (27.3%). Plasma IGF-I levels were lowered by 50% and were normalized in 7 out of 18 cases. The effect of octreotide on pituitary tumor size was evaluated in 13 patients. In 4 cases, the shrinkage of the pituitary tumor was detected by computed tomographic scans and/or magnetic resonance imaging studies. The drug was generally well tolerated. However, there were probably newly formed gallstones in two patients during the therapy. Our study suggests that octreotide is an effective and relatively safe new approach for treating active acromegaly and gigantism.

• Authors: A Shimatsu, H Imura, M Irie, S Nakagawa, Y Goto, N Shimizu, R Takeda, Y Kato, S Saito, H Ibayashi
• Journal: Nihon Naibunpi Gakkai zasshi (Nihon Naibunpi Gakkai Zasshi) Vol. 68 Issue 2 Pg. 89-99 (Feb 20 1992) ISSN: 0029-0661 [Print] Japan
• PMID: 1592144 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, English Abstract, Journal Article, Multicenter Study)

Chemical References

• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
• Growth Hormone
• Octreotide

Topics

• Acromegaly (blood, drug therapy)
• Adult
• Female
• Gigantism (blood, drug therapy)
• Growth Hormone (blood)
• Humans
• Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Octreotide (administration & dosage, adverse effects, therapeutic use)