Paroxysmal Hypertension Induced by an Insulinoma

Intern Med. 2017;56(4):413-417. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.56.7758. Epub 2017 Feb 15.

Abstract

Insulinoma is a rare, usually benign, pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. The clinical features of an insulinoma are fasting hypoglycemia with neuroglycopenic symptoms including confusion and unusual behavior, while hypertension is usually not associated with the disease. We herein report a patient with insulinoma who manifested paroxysmal hypertension and neuroglycopenic symptoms. The possible etiology of hypertension induced by an insulinoma is catecholamine release in response to hypoglycemia, which may cause acute hypertension through activation of the sympatho-adrenal system. This case implies that sustained hyperinsulinemia due to insulinoma can be functionally linked to the induction of paroxysmal hypertension.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Confusion / etiology
  • Confusion / metabolism
  • Epinephrine / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / etiology*
  • Hypertension / metabolism
  • Hypoglycemia / etiology
  • Hypoglycemia / metabolism
  • Insulinoma / complications*
  • Insulinoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Insulinoma / pathology
  • Insulinoma / surgery
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Norepinephrine / metabolism
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / complications*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Norepinephrine
  • Epinephrine