Comparison of the Efficacy of Octreotide Long-acting Repeatable and Lanreotide Autogel in Acromegalic Patients

Background: Somatostatin analogues have been used as the first-line medical therapy for active acromegaly that is not completely cured, or which recurs after surgery. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR) and lanreotide Autogel. Such a comparison has not been reported in Korea. Methods: Twenty-seven patients who had previously undergone surgery for acromegaly from December 2003 to March 2005 were included. We retrospectively investigated eight patients who underwent operation only and 19 patients who additionally received medical treatment after surgery (octreotide LAR, n = 5; lanreotide Autogel, n = 5). Growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels were measured. Results: The mean pre-operative and post-operative levels of GH were lower in patients who underwent surgery only than in those who received adjuvant therapy, but IGF-I levels were not significantly different. In the 19 patients receiving medical treatment after unsuccessful surgery, the mean baseline GH levels were 24.2 g/L for octreotide LAR and 22.8 g/L for lanreotide Autogel (P = 0.711), and the mean GH levels 36 months post-treatment were 4.1 g/L and 2.5 g/L, respectively (P = 0.794). GH g/L represented 30% of octreotide LAR patients and 33.3% of lanreotide Autogel patients (P = 0.91). Patients with normal IGF-I levels represented 54.5% and 66.7%, respectively (P = 0.71). Conclusion: No significant difference in therapeutic effect of octreotide LAR and lanreotide Autogel was evident in 19 Korean acromegalic patients who were not completely cured by surgery and radiation therapy.