Because of their vasoactive effects, somatostatin and its analogs are increasingly used in the management of complications of chronic liver diseases such as variceal bleeding. Postprandial hyperemia augments splanchnic blood flow, subsequently increasing portal pressure. The aim of this study was to explore effects of the somatostatin analog, lanreotide, on food-stimulated hemodynamic parameters in healthy human subjects. A dose-response curve was constructed in eight healthy male subjects in a placebo-controlled cross-over study. On 4 different days, either 0 (placebo), 50, 100, or 200 g/h of lanreotide was infused intravenously in random order, starting at 45 minutes for 7 hours. On each day, a liquid test meal (Ensure plus, 1.5 kcal/mL) was perfused intraduodenally at a rate of 3 mL/min over 7 hours after a 45-minute basal period. Diastolic arterial pressure (dBP), heart rate (HR), superior mesenteric arterial (SMA) average flow velocity (SMA-V), SMA pulsatility index (SMA-PI), portal venous volume flow (PV-F), and renal artery (RA) resistance index (RA-RI) were measured on regular intervals (flows using Echo-Doppler technology). Lanreotide at all doses abolished food-stimulated splanchnic hyperemia both in the SMA and PV over 7 hours. The fall in dBP and increase in HR after food perfusion were blunted under lanreotide. Food as well as lanreotide did not modify RA-RI. In summary: 1) lanreotide inhibits food-induced splanchnic hyperemia in normal subjects; 2) in parallel, systemic hemodynamic alterations to food stimulation are abolished with lanreotide; and 3) renal vascular resistance is unchanged. Because of its persistent splanchnic vasoconstrictive effect, lanreotide should be tested in patients with portal hypertension. (HEPATOLOGY 1998;27: 920-925.) Natural somatostatin, and especially its analog, octreotide, are increasingly used in the treatment of esophageal variceal bleeding. [1][2][3][4] In patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension, it reduces splanchnic and azygos blood flow, 5,6 whereas the action with regard to portal pressure is modest. [5][6][7] Conversely, the effect(s) of natural somatostatin and its analog, octreotide, upon renal hemodynamics and function are unclear and have been a reason for debate. [8][9][10][11] Hemodynamic effects, at least for octreotide, have recently been shown to be only short-lasting, even when the drug is infused constantly. 12 In addition, no clear dose-response with regard to splanchnic hemodynamics has been performed, making a dose justification for the use of this compound difficult.Food is a very potent hyperemic stimulus in the splanchnic vascular area, both in normal subjects, 13-15 as well as in patients with portal hypertension. 16,17 It has been hypothesized that postprandial hyperemia may acutely augment portal pressure, and by this mechanism may probably increase the risk of bleeding from gastroesophageal varices. 18,19 It has also been shown that octreotide blunts this postprandial increase both in normal subjects 20,21 and cirrhotic patients....

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