Antibody-mediated insulin resistance treated by cessation of insulin administration

Intern Med. 2000 Feb;39(2):143-5. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.39.143.

Abstract

A 45-year-old Japanese man was referred to our hospital because of hyperglycemia despite the administration of as much as 120 U/day of human insulin. He had no history of injecting animal insulin. Free insulin was below 5 microU/ml, but a high titer of total insulin (about 3,000 microU/ml) was observed, suggesting the presence of antibodies against human insulin. Scatchard analysis showed an increased insulin binding capacity in the plasma characterized by a higher affinity for insulin. He was successfully treated by cessation of insulin administration. A Scatchard analysis series showed that a reduction in the insulin binding capacity of antibodies paralleled the improvement in glycemic control.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy*
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / immunology
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / analysis
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / immunology
  • Insulin / administration & dosage*
  • Insulin / immunology
  • Insulin Antibodies / blood*
  • Insulin Antibodies / immunology
  • Insulin Resistance / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Antibodies