Octreotide long-acting formulation (LAR) in chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea not related to cancer treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The effectiveness and improvement in quality of life (QOL) of a long-acting formulation of octreotide (LAR) administration for cancer patients, with chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea not attributed to medical therapy, were investigated.


METHODS
Twenty-nine patients with chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea were enrolled to receive octreotide LAR at a starting dose of 30 mg i.m. every 28 days until resolution of the diarrhea for a period of 3 months.


RESULTS
Twenty-three patients (79.3%) administered octreotide LAR achieved resolution of diarrhea, while six patients (20.7%) successfully controlled their diarrhea during the study. All patients experienced improved sodium, potassium, albumin and total protein values with improvement in their QOL, as assessed by the Linear Analog Scale Assessment (LASA) (mean values at baseline and at 3 months: energy: 3.2+/-1.1 vs. 6.2+/-1.4; function: 3.1+/-1.3 vs. 6.2+/-1.2; QOL: 3.2+/-0.9 vs. 6.1+/-1.4). No toxicities associated with the administration of octreotide LAR were noted.


CONCLUSIONS
The administration of octreotide LAR at a starting dose of 30 mg i.m. every 28 days efficiently resolved or controlled chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea, not caused by medical intervention, in cancer patients and improved their QOL.
Mystakidou
Kyriaki
K
Pain Relief and Palliative Care Unit, Department of Radiology, Areteion Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Athens, 27 Korinthias St., 115 26 Athens, Greece. mistakidou@yahoo.com
Katsouda
Emmanuela
E
Tsilika
Eleni
E
Smyrniotis
Vassilios
V
Vassiliou
Ioannis
I
Tsiatas
Marinos
M
Vlahos
Lambros
L
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008139:Loperamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D015282:Octreotide / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D011788:Quality of Life
D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D008139:Loperamide; D015282:Octreotide