Control of catecholamine release and blood pressure with octreotide in a patient with pheochromocytoma: A case report with in vitro studies

A 65-year-old male patient with pheochromocytoma, whose hypertensive episodes were uncontrolled using conventional therapy, was successfully treated with octreotide (SMS 201-995). The serum catecholamine level and the urinary excretion of catecholamines decreased after 300 mu g/day of octreotide was administered. To clarify the mechanisms of octreotide that lower catecholamine released from a tumor, we studied the in vitro effects of octreotide on membrane potentials and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel (VDCC) current using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique in single pheochromocytoma cells dispersed after tumor resection. The action potentials were reversibly inhibited with 10 mu M octreotide. In addition, the VDCC current evoked by depolarized pulses from the holding potential of -60 mV was inhibited with 10 mu M octreotide. Octreotide is useful for controlling blood pressure before surgery in some patients with uncontrolled hypertension caused by a pheochromocytoma. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.