The effect of minisomatostatin on anomalous growth hormone responses in acromegaly.
Twelve patients with active acromegaly were treated with the long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 at a dose of 50 micrograms sc twice daily in the first 2 weeks of treatment and 100 micrograms twice daily thereafter. Four hours after the first injection of SMS, GH levels became normal in 8 of the 12 patients. The GH response after hpGRF administration was strongly suppressed by SMS. Paradoxical GH responses to TRH disappeared in 6 out of 7 patients during SMS. Paradoxical GH responses to LHR, however, persisted in 4 out of 4 patients. Paradoxical responses of GH after glucose loading disappeared in 2 out of 2 patients. We conclude that SMS normalizes most anomalous growth hormone kinetics in acromegaly. This drug offers a new tool in the treatment of this disease.
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000328:Adult; D004341:Drug Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000627:therapeutic use*
D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013004:Somatostatin; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D015282:Octreotide