Long-term survival in a patient with malignant carcinoid treated with high-dose octreotide.
Octreotide acetate, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, is effective in controlling and markedly reducing the symptoms of carcinoid crisis. We report a patient with carcinoid syndrome with prolonged survival for 4.5 years with high dose octreotide therapy and survived for 7.5 years after the first flushing, in spite of episodes of severe carcinoid crisis. Dose escalation was required in order to control carcinoid symptoms, and the final dosage was 5,950 micrograms/day. Although administration of such a high dosage of octreotide has never been reported before, we found that octreotide could be used at this dosage safely without inducing serious side effects, and probably prolonged the patient's survival. Our experience with this case indicates that octreotide acetate is an effective drug in controlling carcinoid crisis and prolonging survival without serious side effects.
Deguchi
H
H
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Mie University School of Medicine, Tsu.
Deguchi
K
K
Tsukada
T
T
Murashima
S
S
Iwasaki
E
E
Tsuda
M
M
Kobayashi
T
T
Shirakawa
S
S
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001984:Bronchial Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006801:Humans; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007370:Interferon Type I / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008297:Male; D008303:Malignant Carcinoid Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005641:Tegafur / Q000008:administration & dosage
D007155:Immunologic Factors; D007370:Interferon Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D005641:Tegafur; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D015282:Octreotide