Somatostatin in the treatment of patients with extra-pyramidal disorders and patients with EEG abnormalities

The growth hormone release inhibiting hormone acts probably both as a true hypophysiotropic hormone and as a neuroregulatory substance. Neurophysiological studies have shown that somatostatin is a CNS depressant. Somatostatin might therefore be of therapeutic significance in neurological diseases. Sixteen patients with different extrapyramidal disorders and seven patients with various EEG abnormalities were tested with 2-hour somatostatin infusions and control infusions with saline. Somatostatin did not induce any improvement or deterioration of symptoms, signs, or EEG abnormalities in any patient.