An open trial of octreotide long-acting release in the management of short bowel syndrome.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the effects of the long-acting release (LAR) depot octreotide preparation Sandostatin LAR Depot on stool water and electrolyte losses, fecal fat excretion, and GI transit in patients with short bowel syndrome.

METHODS

We performed a 15-wk, prospective, open-label study of intramuscular (i.m.) Sandostatin LAR Depot, 20 mg, at 0, 3, 7, and 11 wk. Balance studies were performed before and at the end of the 15-wk study. Baseline and posttreatment measurements of body weight, stool fat, sodium and potassium, and gastric and small bowel transit of a radiolabeled egg meal were compared by paired analysis.

RESULTS

We studied eight patients with short bowel syndrome (five women and three men; mean age 52 yr, range 37-72 yr) who had been TPN dependent for a mean of 11.8 yr (range 1.5-22 yr). The underlying diagnoses were Crohn's disease (n = 6), intestinal ischemia (n = 1), and resection for carcinoid tumor (n = 1). Treatment with Sandostatin LAR Depot significantly increased small bowel transit time (p = 0.03). Changes in body weight, urine volume, stool weight, fecal fat excretion, stool sodium and potassium excretion, or gastric emptying rate were highly variable, and no overall significance was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

Sandostatin LAR Depot for 15 wk significantly prolonged small bowel transit time. Body weight and stool parameters in response to Sandostatin LAR Depot treatment needs to be assessed further in multicenter studies assessing dose, frequency of administration, and a larger sample size.