Studies on pathophysiology and treatment in patients with active acromegaly Part Ⅱ. Studies on pharmacological treatment for active acromegalic patients

Four patients with active acromegaly were treated for 18 to 180 days with 2-Br-α-ergocryptine(CB-154), and the following results were obtained. 1). Two patients showed an improvement in glucose tolerance with short term treatment with CB-154, and other patients showed a change in their voice and a reduction in soft tissue thicking with long term treatment. 2). The effect of CB-154 on LH-RH induced hGH release was studied in 2 patients with active acromegaly. In a patient whose hGH levels were suppressed by administration of CB-154 (CB-154 responder), CB-154 completely blocked LH-RH induced hGH release, whereas in a CB-154 non-responder CB-154 did not block LH-RH induced hGH release. 3). Under CB-154 administration plasma hGH concentration fell remarkably during awake, but plasma hGH level during sleep was not suppressed in patients with active acromegaly. These results suggest that CB-154 is a potent drug for the treatment of acromegaly and act on both superior centers, the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland