The Effect of Sandostatin LAR in the Treatment of Acromegaly

This study was designed to investigate the effects of sandostatin LAR after multiple injections and duration of its effect on acromegal patients. Five acromegal patients were treated with sandostatin LAR. After performing Octreotide test, 30 mg sandostatin LAR was administered for 3 times and the frequency of mean daily Growth Hormone (GH) less than 5 g L-1 were compared between 1st and 3rd injections. Then drug`s acting period was assessed (G.H <5 g L-1). In addition in 3 patients the efficacy of 30 and 40 mg daily dosages were compared with each other. No significant relationship was found between the response rate to sandostatin and short acting Octreotide. Also the frequency of GH <5 g L-1 after 3rd injection was more than scale after the first injection (p<0.01). The drug`s effect continued for at least 42 days after injections. Octreotide test (with single dose injection) wasn`t proved to be a reliable method for prediction of patients` response to treatment. Measuring GH after multiple injections is a better method for this purpose and it`s also better to determine injection intervals in each patient individually.