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Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes 2001; Vol. 109(4): 245-248
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15113
Case Report

© Johann Ambrosius Barth

Severe hypoglycemia due to insulin autoimmune syndrome with insulin autoantibodies crossreactive to proinsulin

T. Lohmann 1 , J. Kratzsch 2 , K. Kellner 1 , H. Witzigmann 3 , J. Hauss 3 , R. Paschke 1
  • 1 Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Leipzig, Germany
  • 2 Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Germany
  • 3 Department of Surgery II, University of Leipzig, Germany
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

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Summary:

We report the case of a 69-year-old woman with insulin autoimmune syndrome first misdiagnosed as insulinoma. The case demonstrates the difficulties to correctly diagnose this rare disorder as both insulin and proinsulin levels were increased by crossreactive autoantibodies. No known triggering agent could be identified. We suggest that this diagnosis should be considered more often also in caucasian patients to avoid useless operations for such patients.

Abbreviations: Ab, antibodies; IAA, insulin autoantibodies; IAS, insulin autoimmune syndrome; IRI, immune reactive insulin; PI, proinsulin; SEC, size exclusion chromatography

Key words:

Hypoglycemia - insulin autoimmune syndrome - proinsulin - insulin autoantibodies

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Tobias LohmannMD 

Dept. of Internal Medicine III

University Leipzig

Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 27

D-04103 Leipzig

Germany

Phone: +49-341-97 13 200

Fax: +49-341-97 13 219

Email: loht@medizin.uni-leipzig-de

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