title: Treatment of the carcinoid syndrome with somatostatin, salmon calcitonin, or octreotide.
abstract: Three patients with the carcinoid syndrome received intravenous somatostatin (3.5 micrograms/min) for one day; intravenous salmon calcitonin (8 IU/hr) for one day; subcutaneous salmon calcitonin (100 IU three times daily) for ten days; and subcutaneous octreotide (150 micrograms three times daily) for ten days. Octreotide (SMS-201.995) is a stable analogue of somatostatin. There was a five-day washout period between each treatment. During each of these treatments, reductions in the numbers of daily flushes and bowel movements, stool weight, and urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were observed. Relief of cramping abdominal pains was also reported. Patients 1 and 3 chose to continue receiving the subcutaneous calcitonin and patient 2 chose the octreotide. Patient 1 (aged 67 years) reported relief of symptoms for five months until she developed an intestinal obstruction as a result of tumor infiltration. Patient 3 (aged 67 years) has received the calcitonin for about 16 months with relief of symptoms and reduced urinary 5-HIAA levels. Patient 2 (aged 57 years) has continued octreotide treatment for one year and reports relief of symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Medicine II, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gambuzza
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bertoni
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baschieri
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000652:urine*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D008303:Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D013004:Somatostatin; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; C028815:salmon calcitonin; D002116:Calcitonin; D015282:Octreotide