Effect of somatostatin on human gastric blood flow evaluated by endoscopic laser Doppler flowmetry

The effect of somatostatin on human gastric blood flow has been evaluated by endoscopic laser Doppler flowmetry. A bolus injection of 250 micrograms somatostatin intravenously caused a transitory decrease in the gastric blood flow of 40%. After continuous infusion of somatostatin for 1 h no change in the gastric microcirculation could be demonstrated in spite of significantly elevated somatostatin-like immunoreactivity in plasma. The results do not give evidence that somatostatin has a possible beneficial effect in patients with gastric bleeding caused by a significant gastric blood flow reduction.