Growth hormone receptor antagonists.
The currently available long-acting somatostatin analogs normalize serum growth hormone (GH) levels and insulin-like growth factor-I levels in approximately 60% of patients with acromegaly. The recently introduced GH receptor antagonist, pegvisomant, is able to normalize insulin-like growth factor-I levels in virtually all acromegalic subjects. Although no correlation between increased GH concentrations and tumor size has been found, long-term safety studies are still in progress. Also, pegvisomant monotherapy is administered once daily and is very costly. Combined treatment of a somatostatin analog with pegvisomant appears to be an effective and rational approach.
van der Lely
A J
AJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands. a.vanderlelij@erasmusmc.nl
Kopchick
John J
JJ
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013004:Somatostatin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C406545:pegvisomant