Lung Carcinoid With Cushing's Syndrome: Control of Serum Acth and Cortisol Levels Using SMS 201–995 (Sandostatin)

Two patients with Cushing's syndrome due to lung carcinoid tumours were given the long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201-995 (Sandostatin). One received a single 50 micrograms dose which produced a 50% reduction in circulating ACTH levels within 4 h. The other has been maintained in clinical and biochemical remission for 10 weeks on 100 micrograms tid. This is the first report of the successful use of SMS 201-995 in carcinoid-induced Cushing's syndrome, and suggests that this hormone analogue could be valuable in the long term medical management of such patients.