MARKED IMPROVEMENT OF DIABETIC DIARRHEA WITH THE SOMATOSTATIN ANALOG OCTREOTIDE

Somatostatin and its long-acting analogue octreotide have been used in various diarrheal disorders, including neoplastic and nonneoplastic d iseases of the gastrointestinal tract. In two insulin-dependent diabet ic patients with autonomic neuropathy and chronic steatorrheic diarrhe a refractory to conventional medications, subcutaneous administration of octreotide markedly improved the volume and frequency of stools in both patients. This change was accompanied by a clear improvement in t heir rapid gastrointestinal tract transit times. The treatment also gr eatly improved their orthostatic hypotension. No adverse effects of oc treotide were observed after treatment for 7 months in one patient and 2 months in the other.