Octreótido long acting release para la hemorragia digestiva en pacientes de edad avanzada con comorbilidad / Octreotide long acting release for severe obscure gastrointestinal haemorrhage in elderly patients with serious comorbidities

Fundamento y objetivo: El octreótido long acting release (OCT-LAR) ha demostrado resultados preliminares prometedores en el tratamiento de la hemorragia recurrente digestiva de origen oscuro. Pacientes y método: Once pacientes con comorbilidades graves se trataron con 20mg intramusculares mensuales de OCT-LAR. No se cambió la medicación concomitante y se monitorizaron trimestralmente los requerimientos transfusionales, los días de ingreso hospitalario y los efectos secundarios. Resultados: La mediana (extremos) de edad y de seguimiento fue de 74 años (65–86) y 15 meses (5–48), respectivamente. Cinco pacientes estaban anticoagulados y otros 5 antiagregados; 8 pacientes tenían (72%) angiodisplasias difusas de intestino delgado. Cuatro pacientes (36%) fallecieron durante el estudio. Únicamente 2 pacientes (18%) permanecieron libres de transfusiones, aunque durante el primer año se redujeron significativamente los requerimientos transfusionales (mediana de concentrados de hematíes de 14 [extremos 9–49] frente a 4 [0–9]; p=0,002) y los días de ingreso hospitalario (mediana de 27 [10–99] frente a 7 [0–23] días; p=0,001). No se registraron efectos secundarios (AU)

Background and objective: Octreotide LAR has shown preliminary promising results in the treatment of recurrent obscure gastrointestinal haemorrhage. Patients and methods: Eleven patients with severe comorbidities were treated with continuous octreotide LAR 20mg once a month. No changes were performed in concomitant drugs. Haemoglobin levels, blood transfusions, hospital admissions and adverse effects were recorded every three months. Results: Median age and follow-up were 74 yr (65–86) and 15 months (5–48). Five patients were on acenocoumarol therapy and other five on antiplatelet drugs. Eight patients (72%) had diffuse small bowel angiodysplasia and 4 patients died during follow-up. Only two patients (18%) remained free of transfusions but it resulted for the first year in an outstanding decrease in the need of red cell packets (14 (9–49) vs 4 (0–9), p=0,002) and in admission days related to gastrointestinal bleeding (27 (10–99) vs 7(0–23), p=0,001). No side effects were reported. Conclusion: Octreotide LAR is an effective, safe and comfortable palliative therapy for severe obscure gastrointestinal bleeding. Medical resources saving and improved quality of life may warrant its use irrespective of comorbidities or life expectancy (AU)