Octreotide - a synthetic somatostatin

Article Abstract:

Octreotide acetate is a synthetic peptide, or small protein, that mimics the actions of the protein hormone somatostatin, which prevents the release of hormones from the pituitary, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. Octreotide is a more powerful inhibitor of some hormones, such as growth hormone and glucagon, and was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treating metastatic carcinoid, a tumor that releases serotonin and peptide hormones, and vasoactive intestinal peptide-secreting tumors, or VIPomas. Octreotide is similar in structure to somatostatin, but remains in the body for a longer period of time and can be given by injection under the skin. Octreotide improves symptoms such as diarrhea and flushing resulting from the release of substances such as serotonin in patients with malignant carcinoid syndrome, and prevents the life-threatening drop in blood pressure from carcinoid crisis during the induction of anesthesia. It decreases diarrhea associated with VIPomas, but its effect is only transient. Octreotide may cause pain at the injection site, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal discomfort, which become more frequent with increasing doses. Other side effects include steatorrhea, or fat in the stool, dizziness, headache, fatigue, cholelithiasis or formation of gallstones, hepatitis or inflammation of the liver, rash, and hypothyroidism. Octreotide may also be used to treat other disorders resulting from increased secretion of hormones from the pituitary, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Drug therapy, Carcinoid, Carcinoid tumor

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Why does somatostatin cause gallstones?

Article Abstract:

Octreotide, a substance similar to somatostatin (a hormone produced in the hypothalamus) has various clinical uses, including treatment of gastrointestinal and pancreatic fistulas, metastatic carcinoid (a tumor type) and acromegaly (a disease associated with excess growth hormone). Long-term use has been associated with the formation of gallstones. In patients treated with octreotide, the incidence of gallstones may approach 50 percent after one year of treatment. Somatostatin reduces the secretion of liver bile and emptying of the gallbladder. The abnormal physiology causing the formation of somatostatin-associated gallstones is not understood. A study was undertaken to determine the effect of octreotide on the formation of gallstones by determining liver and gallbladder bile composition and the amount of gallbladder stasis (lack of movement) in prairie dogs. There were 14 control animals and 10 animals who received octreotide. Gallbladder stasis was induced in the octreotide group, and gallbladder bile concentrations of total calcium, monoglucuronide, total bilirubin, total protein, and total lipids were increased. Gallbladder stasis and changes in liver bile concentrations lead to greater concentrations of bile in the gallbladder. The results suggest that octreotide changes the composition of liver bile, causes stasis of the gallbladder, and increases elements of gallbladder bile. It is concluded that these changes in composition increase the potential for cholesterol and calcium bilirubinate precipitation (gallstone formation). (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Development and progression, Gallstones, Somatostatin

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Poor diet, inactivity on the rise as a leading cause of death

Article Abstract:

Physical inactivity and poor dietary habits are becoming leading causes of death among Americans. Other significant causes of death are alcohol consumption, microbacterial, toxic agents and vehicle crashes.

United States, Health aspects, Risk factors, Food and nutrition, Food habits, Americans

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