Evaluation of a long-acting somatostatin receptor ligand for the treatment of feline acromegaly
Investigator: K.F. Lunn, Colorado State University
Acromegaly results from chronic excessive growth hormone secretion from a tumor of the pituitary gland. Cats with acromegaly exhibit insulin resistance leading to diabetes mellitus which can be difficult to control, along with enlarged organs, soft tissues and bony structures, and cardiac and renal disease. Once considered rare, current information suggests that acromegaly is significantly underdiagnosed.
An effective treatment could lead to wider awareness of this disorder in cats. This study examined the use of a drug used in humans for acromegaly called octreotide, a somatostin receptor ligand. The researchers found that octreotide appears to be safe in cats, but not all cats benefited from its use. At the dose and duration of treatment these investigators used, octreotide was not found to be therapeutically effective for acromegaly. This study should aid treatment decisions for cats with this condition. [MK]Related articles: Niessen SJM. Feline Acromegaly: An essential differential diagnosis for the difficult diabetic. J Feline Med Surg. 2010; 12: 15-23.
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