title: Evaluation of a repeatable depot-bromocriptine preparation(Parlodel LAR) for the treatment of acromegaly.
abstract: The effectiveness and side effects of a newly developed, repeatable depot-bromocriptine preparation, (Parlodel LAR, depot-bromocriptine), were studied in 7 acromegalic patients. A dose of 100 mg was injected at intervals of 28 days for 4 months, followed by 200 mg for 2 months. GH profiles (14 h) and an oral glucose load (oGTT) were performed prior to each injection. Depot-bromocriptine suppressed the mean serum profile GH concentration to less than 50% of the pretreatment value in 3 out of 7 patients (responders). Normalization of GH secretion was not achieved. During oGTT the mean serum GH concentration declined to 73%, 19% and 56% of the pretreatment value in the three responders (while on depot-bromocriptine 200 mg). IGF-I was reduced to 84% and 65% with 200 mg depot-bromocriptine in 2 GH responders only. No tumour shrinkage was observed in 3 patients with a visible tumor mass in NMR tomography. Side effects consisted of pronounced orthostatic dysregulation, nausea and vomiting on the day of injection in 3/7 patients. These results are comparable to the reported effectiveness and side effects of oral bromocriptine therapy. Depot-bromocriptine may be useful in selected responsive patients, particularly when compliance during oral therapy is a problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Klinikum Steglitz, Freie Universität, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Plöckinger
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Quabbe
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001971:Bromocriptine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D001971:Bromocriptine; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone