A case of malignant insulinoma: successful control of glycemic fluctuation by replacing octreotide injections with octreotide LAR injections

Endocr J. 2013;60(8):951-7. doi: 10.1507/endocrj.ej13-0025. Epub 2013 May 11.

Abstract

A 73-year-old woman with malignant insulinoma was treated with 100 μg/day octreotide for unresected insulinoma and liver metastases. The daily administration of the drug induced hyperglycemia after dinner in addition to existing fasting hypoglycemia possibly because this drug suppressed both insulin and glucagon secretion and its blood concentration was unstable. After replacing a daily injection of octreotide with a monthly injection of octreotide long-acting repeatable (LAR), blood glucose levels stabilized within the normal range. The findings of the present study showed that octreotide LAR could be useful for the long-term treatment of unresectable insulinomas.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Blood Glucose / drug effects
  • Blood Glucose / metabolism*
  • Delayed-Action Preparations / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypoglycemia / chemically induced
  • Insulinoma / drug therapy*
  • Insulinoma / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary
  • Octreotide / administration & dosage*
  • Octreotide / adverse effects
  • Octreotide / blood
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Delayed-Action Preparations
  • Octreotide