Review: long-acting somatostatin analogues.

This article reviews the chemistry, actions and chemical applications of somatostatin and its analogues. At present, their gastroenterological use should be considered in patients with the carcinoid syndrome and functioning pancreatic endocrine tumours; in endocrinology there is interest in their use for the management of patients with resistant acromegaly. With these possible exceptions, somatostatin analogues should at present be used only in the context of clinical trials.