Effect of Octreotide on Intestinal Motility and Bacterial Overgrowth in Scleroderma

Octreotide stimulates intestinal motility in normal subjects and in patients with scleroderma. In such patients, the short-term administration of octreotide reduces bacterial overgrowth and improves abdominal symptoms. This agent may be useful for the treatment of intestinal dysmotility in patients with scleroderma.