Ineffectiveness of SMS 201-995 in Severe Hyperinsulinemia

The long-acting somatostatin analogue SMS 201–995 has been used with impressive success in the treatment of certain endocrine disorders, including acromegaly (1-4), the Verner-Morrison syndrome (5,6), and the carcinoid syndrome (7,8). There is less information with respect to the effectiveness of this drug in the treatment of organic hyperinsulinism (β-cell adenomas, carcinomas, hyperplasia, and nesidioblastosis). We report two cases with severe hyperinsulinism caused by islet cell adenomas. In both cases, protracted hypoglycemia and hyperinsulinemia were not improved by SMS 201–995.