Three months of octreotide treatment decreases gastric acid secretion and argyrophil cell density in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and antral G-cell hyperfunction.
METHODS
The effects of three months of treatment with octreotide on gastric acid hypersecretion induced by hypergastrinaemia were investigated in patients with Zollinger-Ellison syndrome (n = 5) or antral G-cell hyperfunction (n = 4). Gastric acid secretion, fasting plasma gastrin concentrations and clinical findings were examined, and a morphometrical analysis of oxyntic endocrine cells was performed.


RESULTS
Administration of octreotide 100 mcg b.d. subcutaneously significantly decreased the volume density of argyrophil cells (P < 0.05) as well as basal and pentagastrin-stimulated acid secretion (P < 0.05). Although partial or complete loss of inhibition was found in most patients after 3 months, gastrin levels were decreased during the first 2 months of treatment (P < 0.05). Fundic D-cells were not affected by treatment. Positive correlations were observed between volume density of argyrophil cells and basal acid output (r = 0.65); plasma gastrin and basal acid output (r = 0.74); plasma gastrin concentrations and volume density of argyrophil cells (r = 0.80).


CONCLUSIONS
These results support the important role of the enterochromaffin-like cell in maintaining acid secretion, and indicate a specific role for octreotide in the therapy of gastric acid hypersecretion associated with hypergastrinaemic diseases.
Annibale
B
B
Cattedra di Gastroenterologia I, Università di Parma, Italy.
Delle Fave
G
G
Azzoni
C
C
Corleto
V
V
Camboni
G
G
D'Ambra
G
G
Pilato
F P
FP
Bordi
C
C
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D002452:Cell Count / Q000187:drug effects; D004759:Enterochromaffin Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005744:Gastric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D005755:Gastrins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011706:Pyloric Antrum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000378:metabolism; D015043:Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
D005755:Gastrins; D013004:Somatostatin; D015282:Octreotide