title: Octreotide in the management of treatment-related diarrhoea.
abstract: Octreotide appears to have a major therapeutic effect in the management of diarrhoea related to cancer therapy. This effect is seen in the acute diarrhoea following radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and also in late radiation enteritis. As well as providing improved symptom control, early treatment can prevent potentially important morbidity in patients who are vulnerable to infection and fluid loss. Patients who suffer diarrhoea as a complication of AIDS, graft-versus-host disease and tumour-related diarrhoea can also obtain major benefit from treatment with octreotide. It should be considered as a first-line treatment in patients for whom diarrhoea may be a serious complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Baillie-Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D004751:Enteritis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006086:Graft vs Host Disease / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D015282:Octreotide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D015282:Octreotide