Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0016382 (flushing)
 6,387 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

APUDomas are rare tumours originating from a variety of endocrine cells localized in different organs. Acute complications from APUDomas usually result from the increased biosynthesis and release of bioactive amines or polypeptide hormones by the tumour. Less frequently, bleeding or compression by the tumour can occur requiring emergency surgery. Increased gastrin production by gastrinomas is the cause of ZES (peptic ulceration and diarrhoea) by gastrin effects on gastric acid secretion. Volume depletion, hypokalaemia, severe bleeding, duodenal perforation, oesophageal stricture and pyloric stenosis are the most dramatic complications. Treatment of these complications and their prevention has been facilitated by the availability of antagonists to H2 receptors and H(+)-K+ proton pump. These medications should control acid output in every patient with ZES. Frequent manifestations of carcinoid tumours, VIPomas and medullary thyroid carcinomas are flushing and diarrhoea. Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue, has markedly changed the management of these patients, their symptoms decreasing in severity or disappearing in most cases. Octreotide has also been used with success in the prevention and treatment of the carcinoid crisis, a dreaded complication of carcinoid tumours. A better understanding of the pathophysiology of APUDomas has enabled new treatment designs which have considerably ameliorated the quality of life of patients affected by these tumours; efforts must be continued to affect their life expectancy.
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PMID:APUDomas: acute complications and their medical management. 131 Aug 47

Octreotide, a long-acting somatostatin analogue has recently been introduced in the therapy of gastroenteropancreatic endocrine tumors, but home experience has been lacking. With the aim of drawing attention to this therapeutic possibility, a case of malignant carcinoid syndrome treated with octreotide for 18 months is reported. Despite the therapeutic attempts preceding the octreotide administration a gradual progression in clinical symptoms was observed and cardiac failure due to fibrotic and valvular heart disease developed. Cytotoxic chemotherapy, serotonin antagonists or repeated selective embolisation of the hepatic artery only resulted in a short transitional improvement. Octreotide in a dose of 100 micrograms three times daily by subcutaneous injection provided effective and rapid relief from episodic flushing and serious diarrhoea. Plasma level of serotonin and 24-hour urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindolacetic acid decreased from 6 micrograms/ml to 2 micrograms/ml and from 800 mumol/day to 70 mumol/day, respectively. No changes in the number and extension of liver metastases could be seen after introducing the octreotide treatment. The patient's compensated cardiac status could be preserved and continuous therapy provided an acceptable quality of life.
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PMID:[Treatment of carcinoid syndrome with a somatostatin analogue]. 137 69

We examined the role of the potent vasoactive kinin substance-P (SP) in flushing derived from various causes. SP was measured in plasma after acetone/ether extraction using an antiserum directed at the carboxy-terminal 5-11 amino acid region of undecapeptide SP. The antiserum had less than 1% cross-reaction with the other neurokinins, neurokinin-A and neuropeptide-K, that derive from the beta-preprotachykinin gene and share carboxy-terminal residues. Basal and pentagastrin-stimulated SP levels were measured in 22 healthy controls, 11 patients with histologically proven carcinoid tumors, 8 patients with tumors other than carcinoid, and 7 patients with idiopathic flushing (IF). Basal SP levels were less than 10 pg/mL in normal subjects. All patients with midgut carcinoid tumors had SP levels greater than 25 pg/mL, as did 7 of 8 patients with noncarcinoid tumors and 5 of 7 patients with IF. Using 50 pg/mL as the cutoff point, the sensitivity was 63% for detection of a tumor, and 100% of nontumor patients were excluded. Pentagastrin administration uniformly induced flushing and caused a rise in SP levels greater than 150 pg/mL in 5 of 10 patients with carcinoid tumors, 3 of 8 with noncarcinoid tumors, and 0 of 7 with IF, i.e. a SP rise of more than 100 pg/mL suggests a tumor. Administration of somatostatin (150 micrograms) 0.5 h before the pentagastrin abolished flushing in all carcinoid patients and reduced SP levels, but not into the normal range. Long term treatment with SMS significantly reduced flushing and lowered SP levels, but did not restore these to normal. We conclude that 90% of patients with carcinoid/noncarcinoid tumor have raised COOH-terminal SP levels. A basal level above 50 pg/mL or a pentagastrin-stimulated rise of more than 100 pg/mL distinguishes carcinoid from IF. The dissociation between SP concentrations and flushing suggests that SP may not be the only kinin involved in the flushing associated with carcinoid tumors.
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PMID:Plasma substance-P in neuroendocrine tumors and idiopathic flushing: the value of pentagastrin stimulation tests and the effects of somatostatin analog. 169 75

Treatment with the somatostatin analogue octreotide, SMS 201-995 (Sandostatin), has been carried out in a series of 23 patients with malignant midgut carcinoid tumours. The patients received initially 50 micrograms twice a day for six months, thereafter a median of 100 micrograms twice daily. Six of 22 evaluable patients (28%) showed objective tumour response lasting for 6 to 30 months. Stable disease was observed in 8 of the 22 patients (36%) and progressive disease in a further 8 patients (36%). A subjective response with decrease of diarrhoea or flushing was noted in 11 out of 22 patients (50%). Two out of 6 patients with objective response demonstrated a significant decrease of tumour size lasting for 6 and 30 months respectively. In order to maintain the clinical response, the dose had to be increased in all 6 responders. The adverse effects included development of diabetic blood glucose levels in 8 out of 22 patients (36%). Albumin-modified serum calcium levels were significantly reduced after treatment with octreotide 50 micrograms twice a day. One patient developed symptoms of hypocalcemia which was reversed by supplementation with calcium and D-vitamins. The somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 has a beneficial effect in the treatment of patients with the carcinoid syndrome. However, the precise role of the drug in the long-term management of these patients has to be further investigated.
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PMID:Treatment of malignant midgut carcinoid tumours with a long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide. 185 8

A patient with carcinoid syndrome was treated with the somatostatin analogue (SMS 201-995). The drug significantly improved the symptoms of the patient, flushing and diarrhea, and reduced urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid. However, hepatic metastases remained unchanged. Clinical or biochemical adverse effects were not present during the treatment period.
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PMID:[A favorable response to the somatostatin analog SMS 201-995 in a patient with the carcinoid syndrome]. 154 39

Immediately after a fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was performed of a carcinoid liver metastasis, a patient had severe flushing, nausea, and faintness, followed by generalized seizure activity, profound hypotension, and cardiopulmonary arrest refractory to resuscitative efforts. This was considered due to massive release of vasoactive substances into the systemic circulation, caused by manipulation of the tumor at biopsy and aggravated by resuscitative efforts. Hypotensive crisis should be considered a potential, although unusual, complication of FNAB of liver metastases in patients with carcinoid syndrome. If biopsy is necessary, an intravenous access line should be established before biopsy is performed, and personnel should be prepared to administer emergency resuscitation. Medication with a somatostatin analogue before biopsy is performed is suggested. Catecholamine administration should be avoided.
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PMID:Fatal carcinoid crisis after percutaneous fine-needle biopsy of hepatic metastasis: case report and literature review. 240 83

We studied the effects of a long-acting analogue of somatostatin (SMS 201-995, Sandoz) in 25 patients with histologically proved metastatic carcinoid tumors and the carcinoid syndrome. This drug was self-administered by subcutaneous injection at a dose of 150 micrograms three times daily. Flushing and diarrhea associated with the syndrome were promptly relieved in 22 patients. All 25 patients had an elevated 24-hour urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) (mean, 265 mg per 24 hours; range, 14 to 1079), which served as an objective indicator of disease activity. Eighteen of the 25 patients (72 percent) had a decrease of 50 percent or more in their urinary 5-HIAA levels, as compared with the pretreatment values. The median duration of this biochemical response was more than 12 months (range, 1 to greater than 18). Since no serious toxicity was observed, we conclude that SMS 201-995 may be appropriate for use as early therapy in patients with symptoms due to the carcinoid syndrome who have not responded to simpler measures.
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PMID:Treatment of the malignant carcinoid syndrome. Evaluation of a long-acting somatostatin analogue. 242 48

The plasma concentrations of neuropeptides (neurotensin, substance P, motilin, somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and gastrin-releasing peptide), the urinary excretion of 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid and serotonin, and the platelet concentration of serotonin were compared in 133 patients who could be assigned to one of four groups. These groups were as follows: carcinoid tumors present; history of carcinoid tumors; miscellaneous tumors present; and non-tumor diseases. The test with the most sensitivity (i.e., patients with carcinoid tumors labeled positive) and the test with the most specificity (i.e., patients without carcinoid tumors labeled negative) for the presence of carcinoid tumors was determined. Urinary 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion had a sensitivity of 73 percent and a specificity of 100 percent; the plasma concentration of substance P had a sensitivity of 32 percent and a specificity of 85 percent; and the plasma concentration of neurotensin had a sensitivity of 41 percent and a specificity of 60 percent. Even when basal plasma concentrations of substance P and neurotensin were elevated, there was no additional increase of these neuropeptides prior to ethanol-induced facial flushing. Although measurements of plasma neuropeptide levels may be helpful in occasional patients with carcinoid tumors, it is concluded that measurements of serotonin overproduction--such as 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid excretion--are of more general value.
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PMID:Role of neuropeptides and serotonin in the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors. 243 80

Malignant carcinoid tumors are remarkably varied in their biologic behavior. The disease may be indolent for years with minimal or no symptoms. On the other hand, an acute carcinoid crisis with severe diarrhea, dehydration, and hypotension may develop in the patient. Patients with flushing and/or diarrhea, not responsive to standard symptomatic measures, may benefit from chemotherapy or hormonal therapy. Chemotherapy with single agents or combination chemotherapy may be associated with response rates ranging from 20 to 40 percent. Hepatic de-arterialization by ligation or occlusion is an effective means of inducing rapid tumor shrinkage for patients who have carcinoid tumors and hepatic dominant metastases. The addition of chemotherapy after induction of a partial remission with hepatic de-arterialization may prolong the duration of response, but this remains to be proven in prospective clinical trials. Hormonal therapy with the antiestrogen tamoxifen has been unsuccessful, but treatment of the carcinoid syndrome with a long-acting analogue of somatostatin has been strikingly effective.
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PMID:Metastatic carcinoid tumors and the carcinoid syndrome. A selective review of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. 243 81

Cutaneous flushing was provoked in seven patients with metastatic carcinoid tumours and the carcinoid syndrome by an intravenous injection of pentagastrin (0.6 micrograms.kg-1 body weight). The patients were studied before and 1 h after a subcutaneous injection of the long-acting somatostatin analogue octreotide 50 micrograms (Sandostatin). The severity of the carcinoid flush in all the patients was reduced by administration of the analogue. The rise in facial temperature was 1.3 (0.3) degree C before and 0.8 (0.2) degree C after octreotide. Six patients responded to pentagastrin with a rise in the circulating neurokinin A-like immunoreactivity (NKA-LI) and five patients with a rise in circulating substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI). No cutaneous flushing or rise in tachykinin concentration was observed in healthy subjects (n = 6) after injection of pentagastrin. The rise in NKA-LI in the patients was decreased by 61 (14)% and the rise in SP-LI by 54 (13)% after octreotide. Although flushing still occurred, the tachykinin response in two patients was completely abolished. The data demonstrate that the release of tachykinins from carcinoid tumours during pentagastrin-induced flushing is subject to partial inhibition by octreotide. However, the occurrence of a flush in some patients in the absence of a detectable rise in circulating tachykinins indicates that the latter peptides cannot be the sole causative agent of the carcinoid flush.
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PMID:Effect of a long-acting somatostatin analogue (octreotide) on circulating tachykinins and the pentagastrin-induced carcinoid flush. 247 May 92


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