Yf. Shi et al., RESTORATION OF GALLBLADDER CONTRACTILITY AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF LONG-TERM OCTEROTIDE THERAPY IN ACROMEGALIC PATIENTS, Acta endocrinologica, 129(3), 1993, pp. 207-212
We sought to examine how the discontinuation of octreotide in long-ter
m octreotide-treated acromegalic patients affects the well-documented
side-effect of cholelithiasis. In 14 acromegalic patients, serum growt
h hormone levels. insulin-like growth factor I levels and percentage o
f relative gallbladder contractility were measured prior to and after
the discontinuation of octreotide. Compared to pretreatment values. th
e basal growth hormone and 5-h growth hormone profiles were 36% and 24
%, and 60% and 56% at the end of 1 and 2 weeks, respectively. Octreoti
de was found to be eliminated completely from the serum within 3 days
after its withdrawal. In all of six patients who did not develop galls
tones, the percentage relative gallbladder contractility normalized wi
thin 1 week. In eight patients who developed gallstones, four of them
had restoration of normal contractility within 2 weeks. Our results sh
ow that upon withdrawal of octreotide, gallbladder contractility retur
ns to normal while growth hormone suppression persists for a longer pe
riod of time. Therefore, discontinuation of octreotide therapy may all
ow for the clearance of stagnated bile and hence decrease the incidenc
e of cholelithiasis in acromegalic patients receiving long-term therap
y.