Successful treatment of a VIPoma by continuous subcutaneous infusion of somatostatin analogue (SMS 201‐995)

SUMMARY A case with WDHA syndrome due to VIPoma is reported. Injection of somatostatin analogue SMS 201‐995 was followed by prompt suppression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide levels (VIP), decreased stool volume, and restoration of the serum potassium concentration to normal. Long‐term treatment with SMS 201‐995 for up to 20 weeks produced excellent clinical control and a decrease in tumour size. No adverse effects were noted except for localized pain at the site of injection. This was overcome by using a continuous subcutaneous infusion pump which also enabled the effective daily dosage to be reduced and thereby adverse reactions to be avoided.