[Advances in gastrointestinal peptides: somatostatin]

Twenty years after being identified as "somatotropin release inhibiting factor" (SRIF) and "growth-hormone release inhibiting hormone" (GH-RIH), under a new name, somatostatin (SMS) has reached an outstanding position in gastroenteropancreatic endocrinology. It is a powerful and universal inhibitor of the digestive functions: secretion, motility, absorption and splanchnic blood flow. Long-acting synthetic analogues have made possible its therapeutic trial in certain clinical problems. This review covers the advances in several areas of interest for gastroenterologists: (a) the role of SMS in the regulation of digestive physiology and its participation in neurohumoral and inmunoneuropeptidic interrelations; (b) in relation to gastric acid secretion, hypotheses on supposed links between duodenal ulcer and Helicobacter pylori infection; (c) theoretical and experimental bases for somatostatin analogues use in the treatment of bleeding esophageal varices; (d) current status of the management of other nonneoplastic gastroenteropancreatic diseases; and (d) strategy for the therapy of endocrine tumors of the digestive system.