Insulin autoimmune syndrome in a pregnant female: A rare case report

Abstract

Rationale: Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) is an uncommon disorder characterized by hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia related to insulin-binding autoantibodies. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of a pregnant female with IAS.

Patient concerns: The 26-year-old patient with Graves disease and 10 weeks pregnant developed IAS after approximately 6 months treatment with methimazole. The patient exhibited recurrent spontaneous hypoglycemia.

Diagnoses: On evaluation, laboratory findings detected both high fasting insulin (>1000 mIU/L) and insulin autoantibodies. An oral glucose tolerance test showed elevated insulin concentrations with disproportionately elevated C-peptide levels. The imaging study showed nomasslesionsinthepancreas,and the patient was clinically diagnosed with IAS.

Interventions: The patient had an abortion, discontinued methimazole and switched to oral prednisone (30 mg once daily) and propylth- iouracil (100 mg 3 times daily) for 3 months.

Outcomes: At the 3-month follow-up visit, hypoglycemic episodes had disappeared and insulin antibody levels were no longer detectable.

Lessons: We have described this case and reviewed the relevant literature concerning diagnosis and treatment of IAS. Importantly, this case indicates that clinicians should view pregnancy as another factor of hypoglycemia in IAS.

Figure 1

The figure illustrates the levels of serum insulin, blood glucose, glycated serum protein and C-peptide release during the episodes of spontaneous hypoglycemia in the patient. Results of serum insulin level, blood sugar level, glycated serum proteinserum, and C-peptide release during the patient are episodes of spontaneous hypoglycemia. The serum levels of insulin and C-peptide both were inappropriately elevated in the presence of hypoglycemia.