Discontinuation of octreotide LAR after long term, successful treatment of patients with acromegaly: is it worth trying?

作者:Ramirez Claudia; Vargas Guadalupe; Gonzalez Baldomero; Grossman Ashley; Rabago Julia; Sosa Ernesto; Laura Espinosa de Los Monteros Ana; Mercado Moises*
来源:European Journal of Endocrinology, 2012, 166(1): 21-26.
DOI:10.1530/EJE-11-0738

摘要

Background: Somatostatin analogs (SA) have been used for over 25 years in the treatment of acromegaly. A major disadvantage is the need to continue therapy indefinitely.
Objective: To evaluate the feasibility of discontinuing therapy in well-controlled patients with acromegaly treated chronically with SA.
Design and methods: Of the 205 subjects on octreotide LAR, we selected those who met the following criteria: two or more years of treatment, a stable dose and injection interval of 20 mg every 8 weeks or longer for the previous year, no history of radiation, no cabergoline for the previous 6 months, a GH <1.5 ng/ml, and an IGF1 <1.2Xupper limit of normal (ULN). Octreotide LAR was stopped and both GH and IGF1 were measured monthly for 4 months; a glucose-suppressed GH value and magnetic resonance imaging were obtained at the 4th month, thereafter, basal GH and IGF1 were measured q. 3 months, for 12-18 months. Patients were removed from the study if GH or IGF1 rose to 1.5 ng/ml or 1.2XULN respectively.
Results: Twelve patients (ten women, mean age 48 +/- 13 years) were studied. Seven patients (58.3%) relapsed biochemically within 1 year of having stopped the SA; two patients relapsed by GH and IGF1 criteria, the remaining five patients kept GH levels within target. Five patients (41.7%) remain in remission after 12 months of follow-up. Non-recurring patients were on longer injection intervals but no other characteristic was associated with a successful withdrawal.
Conclusion: Withdrawal of SA is possible in a small but distinct subset of patients, particularly in those who are very well controlled on relatively low doses administered at long intervals.

  • 出版日期2012-1