Klaus Gyr

A double-blind randomized, controlled study to investigate the efficacy of cimetidine given in addition to conventional therapy in the prevention of stress ulceration and haemorrhage in patients with acute spinal injury.

The efficacy of cimetidine, 1.2 and 2.4 g/day, compared to placebo treatment given in addition to conventional therapy, which included antacids, in the prevention of gastroduodenal lesions associated with stress in 105 patients with acute spinal injury was investigated. Haematemesis was only observed in 1 placebo-treated patient. Of the 84 patients who completed the 10-day treatment and underwent endoscopy, 12 out of 43 cimetidine-treated patients and 11 out of 41 patients who received placebo were found to have gastroduodenal ulceration and/or erosions. Mean circulating concentrations of gastrin, pancreatic polypeptide and secretin were similar in all groups of patients. Whilst cimetidine has been shown to reduce the incidence of ulceration in patients suffering cranial and thermal injuries, the present study failed to demonstrate a prophylactic effect of cimetidine in the primary prevention of ulcers or erosions in patients with acute spinal injury exceeding that of conventional antacid therapy.

What is the maximal effective dose of caerulein in stimulating pancreatic secretion in man

The pancreatic exocrine secretory response to increasing doses of exogenous caerulein with and without a background infusion of secretin was studied in 5 healthy volunteers. Caerulein over a full range of doses (2.3-37 pmol/kg/h) produced increasing enzyme secretion up to 18.5 pmol/kg/h, whereas 37 pmol/kg/h was clearly supramaximal and caused submaximal enzyme release. We conclude that maximal pancreatic enzyme secretion is achieved with lower caerulein doses than generally used in pancreatic function tests.

Rebound Effect and Escape of Diarrhea Inhibition Using Sandostatin® in VIPoma Patients

We report here on two patients treated with Sandostatin® (octreotide) for pancreatic cholera due to metastatic VIPoma. After good initial responses, the inhibitory effect of Sandostatin (SMS) on diarrhea and VIP release disappeared and a significant rebound state developed while the treatment continued.