A prospective, multicentre study to investigate the efficacy,

Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 2007 Jun;66(6):859-68. Epub 2007 Apr 25. A prospective, multicentre study to investigate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of octreotide LAR (long-acting repeatable octreotide) in the primary therapy of patients with acromegaly. Mercado M, Borges F, Bouterfa H, Chang TC, Chervin A, Farrall AJ, Patocs A, Petersenn S, Podoba J, Safari M, Wardlaw J; SMS995B2401 Study Group. SourceHospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico Nacional Siglo XXI, IMSS, Mexico City, Mexico. [email protected] Abstract OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of octreotide LAR (long-acting repeatable octreotide) in the primary therapy of acromegaly. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Ninety-eight previously untreated acromegalics were recruited into this prospective multicentre study. A total of 68 patients successfully completed 48 weeks of the study period, received 12 doses of octreotide LAR 10-30 mg every 4 weeks, and constituted the population used for this analysis. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: A clinically relevant reduction (i.e. to 2.5 microg/l and 20%) tumour volume reduction was reported in 63% and 75% of patients, respectively. A reduction in the severity of symptoms of acromegaly was observed early in treatment and was maintained throughout the study period. CONCLUSION: Octreotide LAR represents a viable alternative to surgery for primary treatment of acromegaly leading to a progressive regression of tumour volume, a sustained control of biochemical abnormalities and an adequate relief of symptoms of the disease