Affiliation:
1. Almazov National Medical Research Centre
Abstract
Introduction. In the cases of neurosurgery failure in acromegaly treatment, drug therapy with somatostatin analogues (SSA) octreotide or lanreotide is indicated. The effectiveness of SSA is limited by the presence of resistance, there is an opinion that in some cases it can be overcome by replacing one drug with another.Aim. Own experience analysis of transferring acromegaly patients from therapy with long-acting octreotide to lanreotide autogel 120 mg.Materials and methods. The case histories of acromegaly patients who were recommended to replace long-acting octreotide therapy with lanreotide therapy 120 mg were analyzed. GH and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) dynamics was evaluated at least 6 months after the replacement of the drug. The target value for GH was considered to be less than 2.5 micrograms/l, for IGF-1 – an excess of no more than 30% of the upper normal limit.Results. 24 patients were transferred to lanreotide therapy 120 mg. Of the 19 patients with insufficient reduction of GH and IGF-1 on prolonged-acting octreotide therapy at a dose of 40 mg every 28 days (OCT40) the prescription of lanreotide 120 mg every 28 days (LAN120) led to the target values of both GH and IGF-1 in 4 (21%) cases. These patients had no more than a twofold excess of IGF-1, and the level of GH was less than 2.5 mcg/l on the background of OCT 40 therapy. In 6 (32%) patients, IGF-1 levels normalized or decreased, but GH remained outside the target values. In 9 (47%) cases, the replacement of the SSA did not lead to a significant positive dynamics in the levels of GH and IGF-1. The effects of lanreotide therapy 120 mg in another five patients initially treated with octreotide 20 mg are also described.Conclusions. Replacement of OCT4 with LAN120 may be effective in some patients with acromegaly. A slight increase in the level of IGF-1 together with the target values of GH before replacing the SSA may be the predictor of success.