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Hormonal and Rare Conditions Carcinoid Syndrome Treating carcinoid syndrome complications
Treating carcinoid syndrome complications
Treating carcinoid syndrome

Treating carcinoid syndrome complications

Treatment for carcinoid heart disease

To lower your hormone levels, you will be given the same treatments as for carcinoid syndrome.1 You can read about these treatments on our carcinoid syndrome treatment page. 

However, your doctor might also suggest:1

  • Medication to treat any heart conditions
  • Changes to your diet - for example, monitoring fluid and salt intake
  • Surgery to replace affected heart valves with an artificial valve (prosthesis)
  • Regular testing to monitor your heart function, such as blood tests and echocardiograms

Treatment for carcinoid crisis

If you believe you have carcinoid crisis, it is vital you seek medical attention because it can be life-threatening.

If you develop carcinoid crisis, you may have treatment with:1 

  • Somatostatin analogues
  • Steroids
  • Fluids into your vein (intravenous)
  • Medication to control your blood pressure

Somatostatin analogues may also be given to you to help prevent carcinoid crisis. This can be given as an injection or as a continuous drip into your vein.1 

References

  1. CRUK. Carcinoid Syndrome. Available at: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/neuroendocrine-tumours-nets/about-carcinoid-syndrome. Last accessed April 2025.