[Insulin autoimmune syndrome revealing systemic lupus erythematosus]

Abstract

A 22-year-old woman was admitted in August 2001 for loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia. Her serum insulin level during the hypoglycemic episode was high at 121 mU/l (normal range: 5-25 mU/l). She had never received an insulin injection. Insulin antibodies by radioimmunoassay were positive. During hospitalisation, the patient presented clinical and biological features of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Treatment with high-dose corticosteroids and cyclophosphamide resulted in restoration of euglycemia associated with resolution of circulating anti-insulin antibodies and parallel improvement in clinical and laboratory features of SLE.