A multicenter clinical trial of SMS 201-995 (octreotide acetate) in acromegaly and gigantism |
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Authors: | A Shimatsu H Imura M Irie S Nakagawa Y Goto N Shimizu R Takeda Y Kato S Saito H Ibayashi |
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Institution: | Department of Medicine, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine. |
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Abstract: | Sixty-four patients with active acromegaly and three patients with gigantism were treated with the long acting somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 (50-500 micrograms, sc, every 6-12 h or 150-880 micrograms daily by intermittent sc infusion, for up to 114 weeks). The fasting plasma GH levels were significantly suppressed (less than 50% of the values before treatment) in 49 patients and became normal in 18 patients. Suppression of GH secretion was associated with normalization of plasma somatomedin-C levels (14 out of 30 cases) and significant clinical improvement such as disappearance of headache and decrease of excessive sweating. Shrinkage of pituitary tumors as determined by computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging studies occurred in 11 out of 40 cases. Side effects were minimal and tolerable. SMS 201-995 appears to be an effective agent for the treatment of acromegaly and gigantism. |
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