Which statement about octreotide in the treatment of acromegaly is true?

• A. It reverses existing tissue changes.
• B. It is taken orally.
• C. It increases insulin secretion.
• D. It suppresses growth hormone production.

Answer: (D)

Octreotide works by mimicking somatostatin, the body's natural brake on growth hormone release. In acromegaly, a pituitary adenoma overproduces GH, so octreotide binds to pituitary receptors and markedly reduces GH secretion. Lower GH leads to decreased IGF-1 production by the liver, which helps alleviate many symptoms and slows disease progression. Established tissue changes from long-standing GH excess, such as bone and soft-tissue enlargements, are not reversibly corrected by this therapy—the drug mainly halts progression and may improve some symptoms over time. Octreotide is given by injection, not taken orally, and its action includes suppressing several hormones, not increasing insulin secretion (it can even impair insulin release in some patients). Thus, the true statement is that it suppresses growth hormone production.