Trial of octreotide in recurrent variceal bleeding

32 patients with biopsy-proven hepatic cirrhosis and a first variceal bleed were randomised to sclerotherapy alone or sclerotherapy plus six months of octreotide therapy.

The patients and clinicians were not blinded.

The main outcomes reported were:

• frequency of rebleeding:
  • during the 6 months of the trial the number of patients who rebled was:
    • 1/16 in the combined octreotide/sclerotherapy group
    • 7/16 in the sclerotherapy alone group
    • p=0.037
      
      
• mortality:
  • during the 6 months the mortality rate was:
    • 0/16 in the combined octreotide/sclerotherapy group
    • 5/16 in the sclerotherapy alone group
    • p<0.02
      
      
      
      
• change in portal pressure:
  • during the 6 months the change in portal pressure was:
    • -6.0 mmHg in the combine treatment group
    • +1.5 mmHg in the sclerotherapy alone group

Reference:

• Jenkins, SA. et al. (1997). Randomised trial of octreotide for long term management of cirrhosis after variceal haemorrhage. BMJ, 315, 1138-41.