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Published on: May 10, 2018

Hypoglycemia attributable to insulin-like growth factor-II prohormone-producing metastatic leiomyosarcoma

M Baig1, R L Hintz, B K Baker

  • 1Department of Medicine, Physiology, and Biophysics, University of South Florida for Health Sciences, and J. A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA.

Endocrine Practice : Official Journal of the American College of Endocrinology and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists
|July 15, 2004
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Metastatic leiomyosarcoma can cause hypoglycemia by increasing insulin-like growth factor-II prohormone. This case highlights a rare cause of tumor-associated hypoglycemia, emphasizing the need for thorough investigation of metastatic disease.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Oncology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Nonpancreatic tumor-associated hypoglycemia is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome.
  • Leiomyosarcomas are malignant tumors of smooth muscle, rarely associated with hypoglycemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review causes of nonpancreatic tumor-associated hypoglycemia.
  • To report the first case of hypoglycemia caused by metastatic leiomyosarcoma.

Main Methods:

  • Case report of a 62-year-old man with metastatic gastric leiomyosarcoma.
  • Investigation of hypoglycemia included hormone level measurements.

Main Results:

  • The patient presented with severe hypoglycemia (19 mg/dL) due to liver metastases.
  • Elevated insulin-like growth factor-II prohormone and suppressed IGF-I were observed.

Conclusions:

  • This is the first report of hypoglycemia secondary to metastatic leiomyosarcoma.
  • Increased insulin-like growth factor-II prohormone is a potential cause of hypoglycemia in this context.

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