HEPATIC-ENCEPHALOPATHY AFTER THE ADMINIST RATION OF THE SOMATOSTATIN ANALOG LANREOTIDE

We report one case of hepatic encephalopathy following the administrat ion of a somatostatin analogue (lanreotide) in a patient with a pancre atic endocrine tumor and liver metastases. Hepatic insufficiency was a bsent. The diagnosis of hepatic encephalopathy relied upon a positive re-challenge test, elevated veinous ammonemia, suggestive findings on electroencephalogram and lack of recurrence after lanreotide discontin uation. Encephalopathy was though to be due to a significant decrease in hepatic blood flow caused by lanreotide, an associated thrombosis o f the portal vein may have played a facilitating role.