Adverse events associated with somatostatin analogs in acromegaly

Abstract

Introduction: In patients with acromegaly, somatostatin analogs (SSA) represent the first choice medical treatment. The long-acting SSA have been found to be effective in controlling growth hormone and IGF-I levels in a high percentage of patients, resulting in an improvement in the quality of life; moreover, these peptide analogs have a proven safety record and are generally well tolerated.

Areas covered: The most commonly reported adverse events include injection-site discomfort and erythema, gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, biliary sludge or gallstones, and abnormal glucose metabolism. Most SSA-related adverse events are transient and of mild-to-moderate intensity, and the prevalence of such effects markedly and progressively decreases during treatment, so that treatment discontinuations due to adverse events are rare and commonly related to GI disturbances. Cholelithiasis represents the most serious complication of SSA, but is generally asymptomatic, and has been reported in 3 – 56% of patients. Whereas the effect of SSA on glucose metabolism is still controversial, several pieces of evidence have confirmed a modest and transient negative impact on glucose homeostasis. Also the novel SSA pasireotide has shown a safety profile as expected for a SSA, except for the degree of hyperglycemia.

Expert opinion: On the basis of these findings, a close and careful monitoring of gallbladder ultrasound and glucose levels is recommended in patients receiving SSA for medical treatment of acromegaly.

Keywords:

• acromegaly
• medical therapy
• somatostatin analogs

Declaration of interest

A Colao has been the principal investigator of research studies from Novartis, Ipsen, Pfizer, and Lilly, has received research grants from Ferring, Lilly, Ipsen, Merck-Serono, Novartis, Novo-Nordisk, and Pfizer, has been an occasional consultant for Novartis, Ipsen, and Pfizer, and has received fees and honoraria from Ipsen, Novartis, and Pfizer. R Pivonello has been the principal investigator of research studies from Novartis, and has received research grants from Novartis, Pfizer, Viropharma, and IASA. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

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