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Somatostatin analogues found to improve HRQL in patients with polycystic liver disease

In an analysis of placebo-controlled clinical trials, somatostatin analogues improved health-related quality of life among patients with polycystic liver disease, according to study data.

Researchers analyzed pooled data from two studies that evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQL) in 96 patients with polycystic liver disease (PLD) after treatment with somatostatin analogues Sandostatin (octreotide, Novartis Pharmaceuticals; n = 24), Somatuline Depot injection (lanreotide, Ipsen Pharma; n = 27) or placebo (n = 36) for 6 to 12 months. The tool Short-Form 36 was used for the evaluation to determine whether somatostatin analogues improved overall HRQL and to identify factors associated with change in HRQL in PLD.

“We used random effect models to delineate the effect of somatostatin analogues on HRQL,” the researchers wrote. “We determined the effect of demographics, height-adjusted liver volume, change in liver volume, [and] somatostatin analogue-associated side effects with change in HRQL. In patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, we estimated the effect of height-adjusted kidney volume and change in kidney volume in relation to HRQL.”

Analyses showed that somatostatin analogues improved physical component scores (PCS), “but remained unchanged with placebo,” (3.41 ± 1.29 vs. − 0.71 ± 1.54; P = .044) according to researchers. However, somatostatin analogue treatment had no impact on the mental component score.

Age, gender, diagnosis and change in liver volume were not associated with change in PCS. A larger liver volume at baseline was found to be associated with a greater decrease in PCS and HRQL over the course of follow-up (−4.04 ± 2.02 points per logarithm liver volume; P = .049).

In a subgroup of patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), treatment with the somatostatin analogues also improved PCS compared with patients who received placebo (P = .01). In addition, patients with ADPKD with large liver and kidney volumes had a greater decrease in HRQL (5.36 ± 2.54 points per logarithm liver volume; P = .040 and − 4.00 ± 1.88 per logarithm kidney volume; P = .039), respectively.

“Somatostatin analogues improve HRQL in symptomatic polycystic liver disease,” the researchers concluded. “Halting the progressive nature of polycystic liver disease is necessary to prevent further decline of HRQL in severe hepatomegaly.” – by Melinda Stevens

Disclosures: Some of the authors report previous grant support from Novartis and Ipsen.