A pediatric case of anaphylaxis due to octreotide

Octreotide is an octapeptide that mimics natural somatostatin pharmacologically. It is a potent inhibitor of growth hormone, glucagon and insulin, which is used for treatment of acromegaly, symptomatic treatment of carsinoid tumours, and vasoactive intestinal peptide secreting tumors. It is also used for chylothorax, chemotherapy induced diarrhea and, as it inhibits the exocrine production of pancreatic enzymes, for acute and chronic pancreatitis. Gallbladder stones, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, hypoglycemia/hyperglycemia, headache, and abdominal discomfort are some of the common adverse effects of octreotide and it may rarely cause anaphylaxis. We present here a child who had chronic pancreatitis and had an anaphylactic reaction to octreotide. To our knowledge this is the first pediatric case of anaphylaxis with octreotide who was successfully desensitized.