Clinical Overview > Condition/ Syndrome > Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia
You are looking at 1 - 8 of 8 items
Search for other papers by F Stringer in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Western Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Search for other papers by C Preston in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Australian Centre for Accelerating Diabetes Innovations, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Search for other papers by R MacIsaac in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by F Inchley in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by L Rivera-Woll in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by S Farrell in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by N Sachithanandan in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
Congenital hyperinsulinism is the leading cause of persistent hypoglycaemia in infants and children; however, it is uncommon to be diagnosed in adulthood. We describe the cases of two sisters who presented with hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia aged 47 and 57 years old, who were subsequently diagnosed with compound heterozygous likely pathogenic variants in the ABCC8 gene, a known cause of monogenic congenital hyperinsulinism. We discuss the typical presenting features, investigation findings, and treatment strategies for patients with this condition.
Learning Points
-
Congenital hyperinsulinism is a rare cause of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia diagnosed in adulthood.
-
Clinical presentation is similar to an insulinoma, and imaging modalities may assist in differentiation.
-
There are minimal medical therapies currently available for patients non-responsive to diazoxide (such as those with ABCC8 and KCNJ11 variants).
-
Continuous glucose monitoring can be helpful in giving patients autonomy in managing their disease, as well as relieving anxiety and fear associated with hypoglycaemia.
Search for other papers by Ved Bhushan Arya in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Jennifer Kalitsi in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Ann Hickey in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Sarah E Flanagan in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Ritika R Kapoor in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
Diazoxide is the first-line treatment for patients with hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH). Approximately 50% of patients with HH are diazoxide resistant. However, marked diazoxide sensitivity resulting in severe hyperglycaemia is extremely uncommon and not reported previously in the context of HH due to HNF4A mutation. We report a novel observation of exceptional diazoxide sensitivity in a patient with HH due to HNF4A mutation. A female infant presented with severe persistent neonatal hypoglycaemia and was diagnosed with HH. Standard doses of diazoxide (5 mg/kg/day) resulted in marked hyperglycaemia (maximum blood glucose 21.6 mmol/L) necessitating discontinuation of diazoxide. Lower dose of diazoxide (1.5 mg/kg/day) successfully controlled HH in the proband, which was subsequently confirmed to be due to a novel HNF4A mutation. At 3 years of age, the patient maintains age appropriate fasting tolerance on low dose diazoxide (1.8 mg/kg/day) and has normal development. Diagnosis in proband’s mother and maternal aunt, both of whom carried HNF4A mutation and had been diagnosed with presumed type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, respectively, was revised to maturity-onset diabetes of young (MODY). Proband’s 5-year-old maternal cousin, also carrier of HNF4A mutation, had transient neonatal hypoglycaemia. To conclude, patients with HH due to HNF4A mutation may require lower diazoxide than other group of patients with HH. Educating the families about the risk of marked hyperglycaemia with diazoxide is essential. The clinical phenotype of HNF4A mutation can be extremely variable.
Learning points:
-
Awareness of risk of severe hyperglycaemia with diazoxide is important and patients/families should be accordingly educated.
-
Some patients with HH due to HNF4A mutations may require lower than standard doses of diazoxide.
-
The clinical phenotype of HNF4A mutation can be extremely variable.
Search for other papers by Saurabh Uppal in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by James Blackburn in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Mohammed Didi in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Rajeev Shukla in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by James Hayden in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Institute of Child Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Search for other papers by Senthil Senniappan in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
Beckwith–Wiedemann syndrome (BWS) can be associated with embryonal tumours and congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI). We present an infant with BWS who developed congenital hepatoblastoma and Wilms’ tumour during infancy. The infant presented with recurrent hypoglycaemia requiring high intravenous glucose infusion and was biochemically confirmed to have CHI. He was resistant to diazoxide but responded well to octreotide and was switched to Lanreotide at 1 year of age. Genetic analysis for mutations of ABCC8 and KCNJ11 were negative. He had clinical features suggestive of BWS. Methylation-sensitive multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification revealed hypomethylation at KCNQ1OT1:TSS-DMR and hypermethylation at H19 /IGF2:IG-DMR consistent with mosaic UPD(11p15). Hepatoblastoma was detected on day 4 of life, which was resistant to chemotherapy, requiring surgical resection. He developed Wilms’ tumour at 3 months of age, which also showed poor response to induction chemotherapy with vincristine and actinomycin D. Surgical resection of Wilms’ tumour was followed by post-operative chemotherapy intensified with cycles containing cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, carboplatin and etoposide, in addition to receiving flank radiotherapy. We report, for the first time, an uncommon association of hepatoblastoma and Wilms’ tumour in BWS in early infancy. Early onset tumours may show resistance to chemotherapy. UPD(11p15) is likely associated with persistent CHI in BWS.
Learning points:
-
Long-acting somatostatin analogues are effective in managing persistent CHI in BWS.
-
UPD(11)pat genotype may be a pointer to persistent and severe CHI.
-
Hepatoblastoma and Wilms’ tumour may have an onset within early infancy and early tumour surveillance is essential.
-
Tumours associated with earlier onset may be resistant to recognised first-line chemotherapy.
Search for other papers by A Veltroni in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by G Zambon in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by S Cingarlini in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by M V Davì in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS), a rare cause of autoimmune hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia, is relatively well known in Japan. The incidence in Caucasians is less than one-fifth of that reported in Japanese people, but it is becoming increasingly recognised worldwide in non-Asians as well. Drugs containing sulphydryl groups are known to be associated with the disease in genetically predisposed individuals. Moreover, several recent reports showed a direct association between the onset of IAS and the consumption of dietary supplements containing alpha-lipoic acid (LA). Insulinoma remains the most prevalent cause of hypersulinaemic hypoglycaemia in Caucasians. Consequently, primary investigation in these patients is generally focused on localisation of the pancreatic tumour, often with invasive procedures followed by surgery. We described a case of an Italian woman presenting to us with severe recurrent hypoglycaemia associated with high insulin and C-peptide levels and no evidence of pancreatic lesions at imaging diagnostic procedures. She had taken LA until 2 weeks before hospitalisation. After an evaluation of her drug history, an autoimmune form of hypoglycaemia was suspected and the titre of insulin autoantibodies was found to be markedly elevated. This allowed us to diagnose LA-related IAS, thus preventing any unnecessary surgery and avoiding invasive diagnostic interventions.
Learning points:
-
IAS is a rare cause of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia that typically affects Asian population, but it has been increasingly recognised in Caucasian patients.
-
It should be considered among the differential diagnosis of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia to avoid unnecessary diagnostic investigations and surgery.
-
It should be suspected in the presence of very high serum insulin levels (100–10 000 μU/mL) associated with high C-peptide levels.
-
There is a strong association with administration of drugs containing sulphydryl groups included LA, a dietary supplement commonly used in Western countries to treat peripheral neuropathy.
Search for other papers by D Cappellani in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by C Sardella in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by M C Campopiano in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by A Falorni in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by P Marchetti in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by E Macchia in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS), or Hirata disease, is a rare hypoglycaemic disorder caused by the presence of high titer of insulin autoantibodies (IAA) in patients without previous exposure to exogenous insulin. Even though its pathogenesis is not fully understood, striking evidences link IAS to previous exposure to sulphydryl-containing medications, like alpha-lipoic acid, a widely used nutritional supplement. Although challenging, a careful differential diagnosis from other causes of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (such as insulinoma) is mandatory, since these conditions require different therapeutic approaches. In the present study, we report a 35-year-old woman originally from Sri Lanka who was referred to our University Hospital on suspicion of occult insulinoma. Her medical history was positive for endometriosis, treated with estroprogestins and alpha-lipoic acid. The latter supplement was begun 2 weeks before the first hypoglycaemic episode. Our tests confirmed the presence of hypoglycaemia associated with high insulin and C-peptide concentrations. When insulin concentrations were compared using different assays, the results were significantly different. Moreover, insulin values significantly decreased after precipitation with polyethylene glycol. An assay for IAA proved positive (530 U/mL). A genetic analysis revealed the presence of HLA-DRB1*04,15, an immunogenetic determinant associated with IAS. On the basis of clinical data we avoided a first-line approach with immunosuppressive treatments, and the patient was advised to modify her diet, with the introduction of frequent low-caloric meals. During follow-up evaluations, glucose levels (registered trough a flash glucose monitoring system) resulted progressively more stable. IAA titer progressively decreased, being undetectable by the fifteenth month, thus indicating the remission of the IAS.
Learning points:
-
Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is a rare cause of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia, whose prevalence is higher in East Asian populations due to the higher prevalence of specific immunogenetic determinants. Nevertheless, an increasing number of IAS cases is being reported worldwide, due to the wide diffusion of medications such as alpha-lipoic acid.
-
Differential diagnosis of IAS from other causes of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycaemia is challenging. Even though many tests can be suggestive of IAS, the gold standard remains the detection of IAAs, despite that dedicated commercial kits are not widely available.
-
The therapeutic approach to IAS is problematic. As a matter of fact IAS is often a self-remitting disease, but sometimes needs aggressive immunosuppression. The benefits and risks of any therapeutic choice should be carefully weighted and tailored on the single patient.
Search for other papers by Xin Chen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Dina Kamel in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Braden Barnett in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Evan Yung in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Adrienne Quinn in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Caroline Nguyen in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
There has been an increasing awareness of post gastric bypass hypoglycemia (PGBH). Histopathologic findings from such patients who underwent partial/total pancreatomy, however, can vary widely from minimal changes to classic nesidioblastosis, making the pathologic diagnosis challenging. PGBH typically presents as postprandial hypoglycemia, as opposed to insulinoma, which presents as fasting hypoglycemia. Herein, we describe an unusual case of a patient with PGBH who initially presented with postprandial hypoglycemia three years after surgery, but later developed fasting hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia as the disease progressed. Our hypothesis for this phenomenon is that this disease is progressive, and later in its course, the insulin release becomes dissociated from food stimulation and is increased at baseline. Future studies are needed to investigate the prevalence as well as etiology of this progression from postprandial to fasting hypoglycemia.
Learning points:
-
There has been an increasing awareness of post gastric bypass hypoglycemia (PGBH).
-
Histopathologically, PGBH can vary from minimal changes to nesidioblastosis.
-
Although uncommon, patients with PGBH after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass may present with both postprandial and fasting hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia as disease progresses.
-
Our hypothesis for this phenomenon is that the insulin release becomes dissociated from food stimulation and is increased at baseline with disease progression.
Search for other papers by Sarah Y Qian in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Matthew J L Hare in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Alan Pham in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Department of Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
Search for other papers by Duncan J Topliss in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
Insulinomas are rare neuroendocrine tumours that classically present with fasting hypoglycaemia. This case report discusses an uncommon and challenging case of insulinoma soon after upper gastrointestinal surgery. A 63-year-old man presented with 6 months of post-prandial hypoglycaemia beginning after a laparoscopic revision of Toupet fundoplication. Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia was confirmed during a spontaneous episode and in a mixed-meal test. Localisation studies including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) and gallium dotatate positron emission tomography (68Ga Dotatate PET) were consistent with a small insulinoma in the mid-body of the pancreas. The lesion was excised and histopathology was confirmed a localised well-differentiated neuroendocrine pancreatic neoplasm. There have been no significant episodes of hypoglycaemia since. This case highlights several key points. Insulinoma should be sought in proven post-prandial hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia – even in the absence of fasting hypoglycaemia. The use of nuclear imaging targeting somatostatin and GLP1 receptors has improved accuracy of localisation. Despite these advances, accurate surgical resection can remain challenging.
Learning points:
-
Hypoglycaemia is defined by Whipple’s triad and can be provoked by fasting or mixed-meal tests.
-
Although uncommon, insulinomas can present with post-prandial hypoglycaemia.
-
In hypoglycaemia following gastrointestinal surgery (i.e. bariatric surgery or less commonly Nissen fundoplication) dumping syndrome or non-insulinoma pancreatogenous hypoglycaemia syndrome (NIPHS) should be considered.
-
Improved imaging techniques including MRI, endoscopic ultrasound and functional nuclear medicine scans aid localisation of insulinomas.
-
Despite advances in imaging and surgical techniques, accurate resection of insulinomas remains challenging.
Search for other papers by María Clemente in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Alejandro Vargas in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Gema Ariceta in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Rosa Martínez in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Ariadna Campos in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Search for other papers by Diego Yeste in
Google Scholar
PubMed
Summary
HNF4A gene mutations have been reported in cases of transient and persistent hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia of infancy (HHI), particularly in families with adulthood diabetes. The case of a patient with HHI, liver impairment and renal tubulopathy due to a mutation in HNF4A is reported.
Learning points:
-
Urine specimen study in cases of HHI with diazoxide response is necessary to rule out specific metabolic conditions (l-3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency) or tubular renal involvement.
-
Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia due to the heterozygous mutation (p.Arg63Trp, c. 187C > T) in the HNF4A gene is associated with renal tubulopathy and liver involvement.
-
Follow-up of patients diagnosed of HHI is mandatory to detect associated conditions.
