Effect of Somatostatin in Patients with Acromegaly

Abstract

In five patients with acromegaly, the chronic hypersecretion of growth hormone was effectively inhibited by the administration of synthetic somatostatin (intravenous bolus of 250 μg followed by a constant infusion, 500 μg per 45 minutes). The rate of growth hormone decline during the infusion was rapid, with a mean half-time of 24 minutes. After the infusion, a return of secretion to previously elevated levels was observed. These data suggest that the inhibitory action of somatostatin on growth hormone secretion is nearly complete and that the biologic action of somatostatin is brief. In addition, somatostatin induced a concomitant fall in circulating levels of insulin, glucose and prolactin and an increase in fatty free acids. No effect on levels of thyrotropin, follicle-stimulating hormone or luteinizing hormone was observed. (N Engl J Med 290:935–938, 1974)