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Horm Metab Res 2001; 33(5): 300-306
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15282
Original Clinical
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Octreotide Reduces Vitreous Hemorrhage and Loss of Visual Acuity Risk in Patients with High-Risk Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

B. O. Boehm1 , G. K. Lang2 , P. M. Jehle3 , B. Feldmann1* , G. E. Lang2*
  • 1 Department of Internal Medicine I, Section of Endocrinology, University Hospital, Ulm Medical School, Ulm, Germany
  • 2 Department of Ophthalmology University Hospital, Ulm Medical School, Ulm, Germany
  • 3 Department of Internal Medicine II, Section of Nephrology, University Hospital, Ulm Medical School, Ulm, Germany* Authors contributed equally to this study
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Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Objective: Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I have been implicated as strong promoters of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. We studied reduction of bleeding and preservation of visual acuity by treatment with the long-acting somatostatin analogue, octreotide, in diabetic patients at an advanced stage of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Research Design and Methods: Randomized trial in a University hospital setting. Reading ophthalmologists were masked for octreotide use, diabetologists were aware of that treatment. Nine patients received 100 μg tid octreotide (verum) subcutaneously for a maximum of 36 months. Nine diabetics served as controls, no placebo treatment was used. Episodes of vitreous hemorrhages were counted, measurement of visual acuity, estimation of neovascularization by stereoscopic fundus photography and fluorescein angiography were carried out. Results: After 3 years of treatment, the incidence of vitreous hemorrhages and the need for vitreoretinal surgery was significantly lower (log rank test p = 0.002) in the octreotide-treated patients. Visual acuity was preserved and significantly better in the octreotide treated group compared to controls (p = 0.05). Conclusions: In diabetics with high-risk proliferative retinopathy after full scatter laser coagulation, octreotide reduced the number of vitreous hemorrhages, preserving visual acuity.

Key words:

Diabetic Retinopathy - Growth Hormone - Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - Octreotide Treatment

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Prof. Dr. B. O. Boehm

Department of Internal Medicine I
Section of Endocrinology
University of Ulm

Robert-Koch-Strasse 8
89081 Ulm
Germany


Phone: Phone:+ 49 (731) 500-4304

Fax: Fax: + 49 (731) 500-3938

Email: E-mail:bernhard.boehm@medizin.uni-ulm.de

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