[Therapeutic applications of somatostatin and its analog, octreotide]

Octreotide is routinely used in the treatment of acromegaly and gastroenteropancreatic tumours such as carcinoids and VIPomas. The most promising indications for octreotide appear, at present, to be as an adjunct therapy in the management of acute oesophageal variceal bleeding, AIDS-related refractory, diarrhoea, digestive fistulae and the prevention of postoperative pancreatic complications (e.g. pancreatitis, fistulae...). Its potential role in the treatment of carcinoma is being currently explored in prospective controlled trials.