Chronic treatment of a benign insulinoma using the long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995.

The newly developed long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 was used to treat a patient with the presumptive diagnosis of benign insulinoma. Although intermittent injections with 50-100 micrograms s.c. every 8 h failed to produce any clinical improvement, continuous s.c. infusion with 150-300 micrograms/day prevented the hypoglycemic episodes absolutely, both during normal dietary intake and throughout 72 h of fasting. Chronic treatment (to date 30 months) has not been associated with any evidence of tachyphylaxis or rebound hypersecretion of insulin.