CLINICAL USE OF THE LONG-ACTING SOMATOSTATIN ANALOG OCTREOTIDE IN PEDIATRICS

Preliminary data of the use of the long-acting somatostatin analog oct reotide (Sandostatin) in pediatrics are reported. In nesidioblastosis and other hyperinsulinemic conditions, timely treatment with octreotid e can protect cerebral function and may reduce mortality. The acute us e of octreotide produces prompt elevation of blood glucose, even in pa tients who fail to respond to diazoxide. In addition, it may be possib le to avoid the need for partial or subtotal pancreatectomy by the lon g-term use of octreotide. As in adults, octreotide should find a place in the symptomatic treatment of secretory diarrhea, notably the water y diarrheahypokalemia-achlorhydria complex and pancreatic cholera synd rome. Octreotide has been shown to be effective in the treatment of fa milial tall stature by reducing height velocity and final height. Resp onses to octreotide therapy vary and the individual responsiveness mus t be extensively studied.