Pai, V., Porter, K., & Ranalli, M. (2011). Octreotide acetate is efficacious and safe in children for treating diarrhea due to chemotherapy but not acute graft versus host disease. Pediatric Blood & Cancer, 56(1), 45–49.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of octreotide in the management of chemotherapy-induced diarrhea (CID) or acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) in pediatric patients
A total of 38 courses of octreotide were administered (27 courses for CID and 11 for aGVHD).
This was a single-site study conducted in an inpatient setting in Columbus, OH.
This was a respective study of subjects that received octreotide acetate between 1994 and 2008.
Data was collected based on chart reviews.
A complete response was observed in 25 out of 27 (92%) courses of treatment in patients with CID; side effects were minimal. In patients with aGVHD, a complete response was observed in 5 out of 11 (45%) courses.
Octreotide was effective in 92% of courses given to patients with CID and 45% of courses given to patients with aGVHD.
Octreotide has been shown to have an impact on reducing CID; however, larger randomized control studies are needed to confirm the validity of these findings as well as to determine efficacy in patients with aGVHD.