Sandostatin LAR Depot (octreotide acetate)

Acromegaly
A chronic disease of adults caused by oversecretion of pituitary growth hormone and characterized by enlargement of the hands, feet, and facial features.

Amenorrhea
The absence or discontinuation or abnormal stoppage of menstrual periods.

Antidiarrheal agents
Over-the-counter medicines that work to control the symptoms of diarrhea.

Arrhythmia
A disturbance in the beating of the heart, either in force or timing.

Arthralgia
Pain in one or more joints.

Bioactive
Having an effect on a living organism.

Biliary
Relating to the bile ducts, which carry bile from the gallbladder or liver to the small intestine.

Bronchodilator
An agent that causes an increase in the opening of the airway passages in the respiratory system.

Cardiomegaly
Abnormal enlargement of the heart.

Cardiovascular
Pertaining to the heart and blood vessels.

Carcinoid syndrome
The set of symptoms that can result from carcinoid tumors, which most commonly include diarrhea and flushing.

Carpal tunnel syndrome
Tingling, pain, and numbness of the hand, caused by compression of nerves in the wrist.

Chemoembolization
Injection of a chemotherapeutic drug into a blood vessel, along with an agent that causes the vessel to close, ensuring that the chemotherapeutic agent remains concentrated in organ supplied by the vessel.

Chromogranin A (CgA) test
Serum chromogranin A (CgA) is a blood test used to confirm the presence of a gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor.

Chronic
Persisting over a long period of time.

Computed tomography (CT) scan
A scan that shows a thin cross-sectional slice through the body, achieved by taking a series of low-dose X-rays.

Conduction abnormality
A problem in the transmission of electricity through the heart muscle, resulting in irregular heart rhythms.

Cyanosis
A bluish or purplish discoloration of the skin due to a deficiency in blood oxygen levels.

Depot injection
An injection of a drug into a large muscle in a form that allows it to be slowly released into the rest of the body.

Diabetes mellitus
A chronic syndrome of impaired glucose metabolism due to insufficient secretion of insulin.

Diuretics
Agents that help the body get rid of excess fluid.

Dopamine agonist
A drug that works on dopamine receptors to inhibit release of growth hormone (GH) from a tumor.

Electrocardiogram (ECG)
A test of the electrical impulses of the heart, or the graph on which the test results are displayed.

Electrolytes
Substances such as sodium or potassium that can conduct electricity and are necessary for certain parts of the body, such as the heart, to function normally.

5-HIAA (5-hydroxyindole Acetic Acid)
A by-product of a substance normally secreted in the body, but produced in excess when a patient has carcinoid tumors; useful in the diagnosis of carcinoid tumors.

Flushing
A redness caused by vasodilation that commonly occurs on the face, trunk or legs of people with carcinoid syndrome.

Gallstone
A small, hard mass formed in the gallbladder or bile duct, usually made of cholesterol.

Gastro-entero-pancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine (NE) tumor
Tumors of the gut and pancreas that can result in hypersecretion of a variety of hormones and other substances, depending on the tumor location.

GH receptor agonist (GHRA)
A type of drug that blocks GH action peripherally, and decreases IGF-1 production.

Glucose
A sugar found in many foods and in normal blood; the main source of energy for most living organisms.

Goiter
Enlargement of the thyroid gland, causing a swelling in the front of the neck.

Growth hormone (GH)
A substance secreted by the pituitary gland that stimulates growth of bones and soft tissue in children and regulates metabolism in adults.

Hormone
A substance that is secreted by a cell that travels through the circulation to exert regulatory actions on other cells.

Hyperhidrosis
Excessive perspiration.

Hypersecretion
Excessive production of a bodily secretion. In the case of acromegaly or carcinoid syndrome, hypersecretion refers to excessive production of hormones.

Hypertension
Persistently high blood pressure.

Hyperglycemia
An abnormal increase in blood sugar levels.

Hypoglycemia
An abnormal decrease in blood sugar levels.

Hypothalamus
Part of the endocrine system that helps activate and control the pituitary.

Hypothyroidism
Reduction in thyroid activity resulting in a decreased metabolism.

Imaging
Refers to diagnostic tests that let the doctor see inside your body. There are many kinds of imaging tests, but the ones used most often in the care of acromegaly are magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scans.

Immediate release
Refers to Sandostatin® Injection, a formulation of octreotide that allows self administration of daily subcutaneous (under the skin) injections.

Impotence
The inability to achieve or sustain a penile erection.

Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)
A growth factor made predominantly in the liver; its levels increase in response to increased levels of GH.

Interferon
A therapy that works at the site of a tumor by boosting the ability of the immune system to fight the cancer.

Intragluteal
Located within the gluteal muscle, a large muscle in the buttock. In an intragluteal injection, the needle is inserted into the gluteal muscle.

Intravenous
Within a vein. In an intravenous injection, the needle is inserted into the vein, and the solution is injected into the venous blood.

Long Acting Release (LAR)
The delivery system for Sandostatin LAR® Depot that enables once-a-month dosing by gradually releasing the active ingredient (octreotide acetate) from tiny microspheres injected intragluteally.

Macroadenoma
A large pituitary tumor.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
A method of obtaining a thin cross-sectional X-ray view of a patient, using a large electromagnet to cause atoms in the body to emit radio waves

Metabolism
A chemical process within the body by which energy is provided to cells.

Microadenoma
A small pituitary tumor.

Microspheres
Tiny, spherical shells made of a biodegradable material that slowly dissolve once injected into the body, which can be used to deliver small quantities of a drug over an extended period of time. In the case of Sandostatin LAR® Depot, the microspheres continuously release octreotide acetate over a period of about 28 days.

Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
A test used to assess the patient´s response to glucose. Blood and urine samples are obtained before and after drinking a solution containing glucose.

Paresthesia
Abnormal neurological sensations such as numbness, tingling, burning, prickling, or increased sensitivity.

Pellagra
A disease whose symptoms include skin rash.

Peripheral Edema
An abnormal or accumulation of fluid in the wrists and hands, or, more usually, the lower legs and feet.

Pituitary
A small gland located at the base of the brain behind the eyes. The pituitary secretes hormones that directly or indirectly affect most basic bodily functions.

Radiotherapy
The use of radiation to kill rapidly growing tumor cells.

Respiratory
Pertaining to breathing.

Secretion
A substance produced by a tissue that may be retained in the body or released from the body.

Selective bronchodilators
Drugs that control wheezing by dilating the airways.

Serotonin
A substance that acts as a blood vessel constrictor that can also inhibit the normal functioning of the stomach.

Serotonin receptor blockers
Drugs used in the treatment of carcinoid syndrome to block the effects of increased serotonin.

Sinus bradycardia
Abnormally slow sinus rhythm; specifically, heartbeat lower than 60 beats per minute.

Sleep apnea
The temporary stopping of breathing during sleep; can be caused by narrowing of the airways resulting from swelling of soft tissue.

Somatostatin
The naturally occurring hormone produced in many parts of the body that signals the pituitary to reduce the production of GH.

Somatostatin analogue
A drug that mimics the effects of somatostatin, a naturally occurring hormone. Sandostatin LAR® Depot is a somatostatin analogue.

Steady State
A condition of equilibrium. In the dosing of drugs, steady state refers to the point at which the rate of drug elimination from the body is balanced by the rate of drug absorption.

Syndrome
A group of signs and symptoms associated with a disease.

Telangiectasia
Red spots on the skin caused by abnormally dilated capillary vessels.

Therapeutic level
The level at which the amount of active drug in the body´s tissues is sufficient to produce a therapeutic response.

Transsphenoidal hypophysectomy
A type of transsphenoidal surgery in which the pituitary tumor is removed.

Transsphenoidal surgery
A procedure used to treat pituitary tumors in which the pituitary is accessed via the nasal cavity.

Tumor
A pathological tissue growth, characterized by uncontrolled multiplication of cells.

Valvular lesions
An abnormal change to the structure of the heart valve that can interfere with the heart´s ability to pump blood.

VIPoma
VIP stands for Vasoactive Intestinal Polypeptide. A VIPoma is a tumor affecting tissue of the endocrine system, usually the pancreas.

Wheezing
Breathing with difficulty, usually accompanied by a whistling sound.

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GLOSSARY

Glossary Index