Reactions 545 - 8 Apr 1995

Octreotide

Elevated serum zinc levels: case reportRoutine monitoring revealed elevated serum zinc levels in

an 18-year-old man after he received SC octreotide [dosagenot stated] as part of his treatment regimen for short bowelsyndrome.

His serum zinc levels were elevated up to 33 µmol/L (normal8–18). The patient received 0.038 mmol of zinc daily inparenteral nutrition and when this was stopped there was nosustained decrease in his serum zinc levels.

The man’s urinary excretion rate of zinc was 72 µmol/24hours (normal 7.5–15), and his jejunostomy excretion rate ofzinc was 52 µmol/24 hours (normal approximately 220),suggesting attempted renal compensation for decreasedelimination of zinc by the gastrointestinal tract. Sinceoctreotide suppresses pancreatic exocrine and endocrinefunction, it was speculated that there could be a link betweenoctreotide and the raised serum zinc levels.

When the octreotide dose was reduced, his serum zinclevels decreased.

Author comment: ‘This case illustrates a potentialassociation between raised serum zinc levels and octreotideadministration and highlights the role of the clinical pharmacistin monitoring drug therapy.’Ludington JE, et al. Potential association between octreotide administration andelevated serum zinc levels. Australian Journal of Hospital Pharmacy 25: 63, Feb1995 [summarised from an abstract] - Australia 800349114

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Reactions 8 Apr 1995 No. 5450114-9954/10/0545-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved