Insulin autoimmune syndrome induced by exogenous insulin injection: a four-case series

• DOI: 10.1186/s12902-019-0482-0
• Publication Date: 2019-12-28T13:02:30Z
• Authors: Yimin Shen; Xiaoxiao Song; Yuezhong Ren
• Keywords: Male; Insulin Antibodies; Diabetes; Case Report; Syndrome; Middle Aged; RC648-665; Hypoglycemia; Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology; Insulin autoimmune syndrome; Autoimmune Diseases; Injections; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Glucose; 0302 clinical medicine; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Hyperinsulinism; Hyperglycemia; Humans; Insulin; Acarbose; Aged

Abstract Background Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is a rare cause of hypoglycemia and is characterized by the presence of insulin autoantibodies. Patients with IAS usually complain of hypoglycemia without any previous insulin received. Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants are used to treat IAS.

Case presentation We report four patients with diabetes who were diagnosed with non-classical IAS and describe the treatment of these patients. Moreover, the differential diagnosis with hyperinsulinism is discussed.

Conclusion High levels of insulin autoantibodies, as well as hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia, are found in patients with diabetes mellitus and prior exogenous insulin exposure. This situation that we classified as non-classical IAS should be attached importance to.