Octreotide long-acting repeatable for acromegaly. Issue 2 (March 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cozzi, Renato; Attanasio, Roberto
• Is Part Of: Expert review of clinical pharmacology. Volume 5:Issue 2(2012)
• Page Start: 125
• Page End: 143
• Publication Date: 2012-03
• Subjects: acromegalic cardiomyopathy -- acromegaly -- GH -- glucose metabolism -- IGF-I -- octreotide -- presurgical treatment -- somatostatin analogs -- tumor size; Clinical pharmacology -- Periodicals; 615.105
• DOI: 10.1586/ecp.12.4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-2433

Abstract

Acromegaly remains a therapeutic challenge for the endocrinologist. Among the available therapeutic options, octreotide long-acting repeatable (Sandostatin ® LAR ®, Novartis) plays a chief role, both as a primary therapy and as an adjuvant treatment after unsuccessful surgery. A plethora of papers and a meta-analysis have demonstrated its efficacy in: control of clinical picture; achievement of safe growth hormone and normal age-matched IGF-I levels (both factors associated with restoration of normal life expectancy) in 60–70% of patients; control of tumor volume (with real shrinkage in over half of cases); and halt or reversal of most acromegaly-associated comorbidities. Treatment is well tolerated in most patients and can be safely prolonged for many years if required.