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Octreotide

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Octreotide is a long acting analogue of somatostatin, and is the most effective medical treatment for acromegaly and the carcinoid syndrome.

Actions include:

  • reduces splanchnic arterial flow, portal flow - and results in a reduction in portal hypertension - and gastric mucosal flow; it may be used in the treatment of oesophageal varices, gastointestinal fistulas and complications of pancreatic surgery
  • octreotide has no proven benefit in the treatment of bleeding peptic ulcer
  • may slow the growth of various gastrointestinal malignancies e.g. pancreatic, colorectal and gastric (1)

Reference:

  • BMJ editorial (1994). Somatostatin in gastroenterology. BMJ, 308, 1381-2.

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