LONG-TERM OCTREOTIDE TREATMENT REDUCED HYPERINSULINEMIA, EXCESS BODY-WEIGHT AND SKIN-LESIONS IN SEVERE OBESITY WITH ACANTHOSIS NIGRICANS

A boy affected by severe obesity (kg 117, Body Mass Index 37 kg/m(2)) and acanthosis nigricans, was treated with octreotide for 150 days (50 mu g x three daily subcutaneous administrations). Before treatment th e patient showed an exaggerated insulin (IRI) and C-peptide (CPR) resp onse to a standard meal with a lowering in after-meal CPR/IRI molar ra tio. During octreotide treatment both [RI and CPR response was reduced but CPR/IRI molar ratio rised after meal indicating an increase in he patic insulin removal. Body weight and acanthosis nigricans were sharp ly reduced during treatment and the reduction was still maintained six months after the cessation of therapy. Furthermore, IRI and CPR respo nse, as well as the behaviour of CPR/IRI molar ratio, remained within normal range. in conclusion long-term octreotide treatment has been ab le to correct hyperinsulinemia and to reduce body weight and acanthosi s nigricans. (C) 1996, Editrice Kurtis