Pasireotide for Cushing's disease
| Author : Pierre Allain |
Date : 2012-4-21 |
Pasireotide is a somatostatin analog which inhibits the secretion of growth hormone and also of ACTH.
A paper published in the NEJM March 8, 2012, shows that pasireotide, given to patients with Cushing's disease due to a pituitary adenoma at the dose of 600 and 900 micrograms twice daily by subcutaneous route, reduced the excessive secretion of cortisol whose level in plasma, urine and saliva drops clearly. Pasireotide seems a new therapeutic option for Cushing's disease.
The principal adverse effect of pasireotide is to induce hyperglycemia by decreasing insulin secretion. If diabetes occurs, it must be treated.
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