Summary
The acute (TRH-stimulation test), intermediate (0-6 days administration), and long-term
(0-30 months administration) effects of SMS 201-995 (octreotide) treatment on thyroid
function were studied.
Subcutaneous injection of 100 μg SMS 201-995 one hour before 200 μg TRH intravenously
reduced serum TSH response area by more than 50% in 8 healthy volunteers.
After 3 days of continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSI) of SMS 201-95 in 9 acromegalic
patients (100 μg/24 h) a slight but significant decrease in serum total triiodothyronine
(TT3) and a concomitant increase in serum TSH were demonstrated, indicating an initial
inhibitory effect on peripheral deiodination of thyroxine. After a further 3 days
treatment serum T3 and TSH had returned to prevalues.
Six of the nine acromegalics were treated with SMS 201-995 (100-1500 μg/24 h) and
admitted for diurnal hormone profiles on 13 occasions over 30 months. Apart from a
barely significant increase in serum TSH, no changes in thyroid function were noted.
The study was especially designed to detect minute changes over time in thyroid hormones.
The only long-term effect of SMS 201-995 was the barely significant clinically irrelevant
increase in serum TSH, possibly caused by a slight inhibition of peripheral deiodination
of thyroxine.
Key words
Acromegaly - Growth Hormone - Octreotide - Reverse Triiodothyronine - Thyreotropin
- Thyroid Function - Thyroxine - Triiodothyronine
