[Therapy of diabetic retinopathy with somatostatin analogues].

Somatostatin analogues are a therapeutic option in patients with chronic overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1). These factors are also involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy. Somatostatin receptors are expressed in the retina and are therefore possible targets of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of retinal vascular diseases like diabetic retinopathy. The somatostatin analogue octreotide has shown promise as a safe and effective treatment for advanced diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema. The compound blocks the local and systemic production of GH and IGF-1, and thus inhibits the angiogenic effect. Evidence from animal models, and clinical trials in patients with diabetic retinopathy, suggest that octreotide can delay, and to some extent reverse diabetic retinopathy.