Document 2948
 DOCN  M94A2948
 TI    VIP and refractory diarrhea in AIDS/ARC patients.
 DT    9412
 AU    Manfredi R; Mastroianni A; Coronado O; Vezzadini P; Fanti MP; Chiodo F;
       University of Bologna, Italy.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):188 (abstract no. PB0179). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94369627
 AB    OBJECTIVE. We have previously described 3 AIDS patients (p) with chronic
       idiopathic diarrhea associated with elevated vasoactive intestinal
       peptide (VIP) secretion (AIDS 1993; 7:223-6). Aim of this study is to
       evaluate a series of AIDS/ARC p with intractable infectious and
       noninfectious diarrhea. METHODS AND RESULTS. Elevated plasma levels of
       VIP (as assessed by a radio-immunoassay) were found in 4/6 p with
       prolonged intractable cryptosporidial diarrhea (mean 13.9 +/- 2.2
       pmol/l), and in 3/5 p with idiopathic diarrhea (mean 12.8 +/- 4.2
       pmol/l), while a control group of 12 AIDS/ARC p without gastrointestinal
       disorders showed normal VIP levels (mean 4.4 +/- 2.3 pmol/l; n.v. < 8.8
       pmol/l). Six p (3 with infectious diarrhea and 3 with idiopathic
       disease) were treated with the somatostatin analogue octreotide (100-300
       micrograms/day s.c.) over a mean period of 12.2 +/- 8.7 weeks, showing
       remission of the intestinal picture in all pts, associated with a
       relevant reduction of plasma VIP concentrations, comparing with
       pretreatment values (from a mean level of 11.9 +/- 3.3 to 7.2 +/- 3.5
       pmol/l; p < .001, Student t test for paired data). CONCLUSIONS. Both
       infectious and non-infectious refractory HIV-related diarrhea show a
       frequent association with elevated VIP levels, corrected by octreotide
       administration. Assessment of VIP secretion may provide a
       pathophysiological rationale for recognizing in advance pts with
       intractable diarrhea who may present a better clinical response to
       octreotide treatment.
 DE    Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome/*BLOOD/DRUG THERAPY  AIDS-Related
       Complex/*BLOOD/DRUG THERAPY  AIDS-Related Opportunistic
       Infections/*BLOOD/DRUG THERAPY  Chronic Disease
       Cryptosporidiosis/*BLOOD/DRUG THERAPY  Diarrhea/*BLOOD/DRUG THERAPY
       Human  Octreotide/THERAPEUTIC USE  Prognosis  Treatment Outcome
       Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide/*BLOOD  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
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