title: Octreotide long-acting formulation (LAR) in chronic loperamide-refractory diarrhea not related to cancer treatment.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: 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
authors.forename: Kyriaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mystakidou
authors.forename: Emmanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Katsouda
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsilika
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Smyrniotis
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Vassiliou
authors.forename: Marinos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsiatas
authors.forename: Lambros
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vlahos
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D003692:Delayed-Action Preparations; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D008139:Loperamide; D015282:Octreotide