Effects of a somatostatin analogue in occult gastrointestinal bleeding: a case report.
We describe the case of a patient with obscure gastrointestinal bleeding and anaemia, who required repeated transfusions for about 1 year. Because of the absence of a certain diagnosis and of a surgical approach indication, we established long-acting octreotide therapy, obtaining clinical stabilisation and interruption of the transfusional need. Withdrawal of long-acting somatostatin analogue therapy was associated with renewal of bleeding that was again successfully stopped by continuous i.v. somatostatin administration followed by re-establishment of the long-acting octreotide therapy. We suggested, in absence of surgical indications and when only palliative therapies are available, a therapeutic approach with long-term SMS analogues in patients with lower digestive bleeding of a known or unknown source.
Tamagno
G
G
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Medical Clinic 111, University of Padua, 35128 Padua, Italy.
Mioni
R
R
De Carlo
E
E
Maffei
P
P
Rubello
D
D
Sicolo
N
N
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000627:therapeutic use
D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D013004:Somatostatin; D015282:Octreotide