New England Journal of Medicine · 1985 · 193 citations · 31 references
MedicineOncologyPharmacologyGastroenterologyGastrointestinal OncologyGastrointestinal PharmacotherapyGastrointestinal PharmacologyPancreatic CancerPancreatic DiseasesPancreatic DisordersPancreatic EndocrinologyPancreatic HormonesPancreatic Cancer PharmacotherapyPancreatic Hormone PharmacologySomatostatin Analog TherapySomatostatin AnaloguesSomatostatin FunctionSomatostatin PharmacologySomatostatin PhysiologyVasoactive Intestinal Peptide Signaling
PANCREATIC cholera is characterized by watery diarrhea, hypokalemia, and acidosis1 and in most cases is due to a non-β-islet-cell tumor of the pancreas that secretes vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) and peptide histidine isoleucine.2 When such tumors are localized to the pancreas, surgical resection may produce a cure, and in patients with metastatic disease streptozocin may reduce the tumor's size and control the symptoms.3 A variety of other agents — corticosteroids,4 lithium,5 metoclopramide,6 clonidine,7 trifluoperazine,8 and indomethacin9 — may also occasionally reduce the diarrhea, and continuous intravenous infusion of somatostatin has also been reported to reduce diarrhea and decrease plasma concentrations . . .
31