THE EFFECT OF SOMATOSTATIN ON SMALL-INTESTINAL TRANSPORT IN INTRACTABLE DIARRHEA OF INFANCY

It has been reported that somatostatin may be an effective antisecreto ry agent in a range of conditions causing severe secretory diarrhoea. In many children, intractable diarrhoeal illnesses result in significa nt morbidity and mortality. In a group of seven children with secretor y diarrhoea, the effect of i.v. infusion of somatostatin (3.5 mug/kg s tatum plus 3.5 mug/kg/h) on the net mucosal flux of salt and water was assessed using an in vivo steady-state perfusion technique. In one of the seven children who had evidence of deranged mucosal secretion and preserved villus function, somatostatin infusion resulted in a modera te reduction in secretion. In the remaining six, it had little or no b eneficial effect. Somatostatin did not alter the rate of glucose absor ption.