Long-term treatment of acromegaly with the somatostatin analogue SR-lanreotide.

摘要

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy and tolerability of SR-lanreotide in the treatment of active acromegaly. PATIENTS AND DESIGN: 30 patients (17 men and 13 women) were treated in whom active acromegaly was confirmed by clinical features, a mean GH level of >5 mlU/l and failure to suppress GH to or =65 years) compared to younger patients but neither sex, pre-treatment GH levels, previous surgery nor previous radiotherapy influenced the response. Treatment resulted in a significant improvement in the symptoms of active acromegaly in the majority of patients. A significant reduction in the size of the pituitary adenoma was documented in 6 of 10 patients who had a repeat MRI scan after one year. Treatment was well-tolerated by the majority of patients; side effects were mainly transient gastrointestinal symptoms. These were severe in only 2 patients necessitating discontinuation of the drug. Two patients developed new gall stones and 4 female patients had temporal hair loss necessitating stopping treatment in one of them. There were minor effects on glucose tolerance which were not of clinical importance. CONCLUSION: Long-term treatment of acromegaly with SR-lanreotide is effective in controlling GH and IGF-I levels and symptoms and is well tolerated in the majority of patients.