Effect of somatostatin infusion on jejunal water and electrolyte transport in a patient with secretory diarrhea due to malignant carcinoid syndrome.

The effect of intravenous somatostatin infusion was investigated in a patient with severe secretory diarrhea due to malignant carcinoid syndrome. Continuous somatostatin infusion for 48 hr (4 microgram/kg/hr) reduced stool volume from 2.2 to 0.7 liters/day. Intestinal perfusion studies before intravenous somatostatin infusion revealed decreased water and sodium absorption and jejunal chloride secretion. Somatostatin infusion for 2 hr (8 microgram/kg/hr) reversed chloride secretion to absorption and markedly enhanced water and sodium absorption. These results suggest that somatostatin inhibited a secretory component of water and ion movement in the small bowel of the patient with malignant carcinoid syndrome.