[The course of diabetes and clinical findings in glucagonoma]

A 66-year-old male patient with non-insulin-dependent diabetes of probably 20 years' duration presented with necrolytic migratory erythema, stomatitis, anemia and weight loss. Plasma-glucagon concentration measured with Unger's antibody 30-K was 8500 pg/ml, representing a hundredfold elevation. Two thirds consisted of high molecular glucagon fractions (10 000--40 000 Dalton). This may be an important index for detection of glucagonoma with endocrine activity. After excision of the glucagonoma the clinical syndrome was reversed and the patient recovered completely. Histological and histochemical investigation confirmed that the tumor was a glucagonoma. Despite complete removal of the tumor and a normal plasma glucagon concentration, the diabetes remained unchanged. Excessive hyperglucagonemia does not appear to play a primary role in the pathogenesis of this patient's diabetes.