A systemic lupus erythematosus patient presenting as type B insulin resistance complicated with cryoglobulinemia

Late Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Associated Insulin Resistance Syndrome: A Rare Cause of De Novo Diabetes Mellitus

The association of type B insulin resistance syndrome (TBIRS) due to autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is uncommon. This is partly due to the lack of established criteria for the diagnosis of this resistance. However, some clinical aspects may suggest that the diagnosis does not necessarily have to be positive insulin receptor antibodies as such patients could respond to immunosuppressive treatment. Methods. We describe a case and have performed a literature review on PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar bibliographic databases to identify all case reports. All available studies from January 1975 through December 2020 were included. Data collected were tabulated, and outcomes were analyzed cumulatively. Results. Thirty-one cases of TBIRS associated with SLE have been described. These patients presented with catabolic symptoms and hyperglycemia in most cases, with an average time from the onset of symptoms of four months. In addition to that clinical characteristics related to SLE were variable, along with certain common characteristics such as acanthosis in 60% of patients. Almost all the patients had antibodies against insulin receptors. The insulin doses required by the patients ranged from 450 to 25,000 U daily. Remission was achieved in 80% of the patients with a two-year follow-up. Most patients associated with late-onset SLE, like our patient, achieved metabolic control after immunosuppressive treatment. Conclusion. High insulin resistance in patients with de novo diabetes mellitus (DM) without obesity should be considered as a possible clinical manifestation of an autoimmune disease such as SLE, with a good metabolic response to the immunosuppressive management established.

Type B insulin resistance syndrome: a systematic review

A literature review on the clinical, laboratory, and treatment features of type B insulin resistance syndrome (TBIRS). Data from PubMed, the Virtual Health Library and Cochrane database were selected and analyzed using the REDCap application and R statistical program. From 182 papers, 65 were selected, which assessed 119 clinical cases, 76.5% in females and 42.9% in African-Americans, with an average age of 44 years. A common feature of TBIRS is co-occurrence of autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (most frequently reported). Hyperglycemia of difficult control was the mostly reported condition. Tests for anti-insulin receptor antibodies were positive in 44.2% of the cases. Disease management comprised fractional diet, insulin therapy (maximum dose given was 57 600 IU/day), plasmapheresis and immunosuppression with several classes of drugs, mainly glucocorticoids. Remission occurred in 69.7% of cases, in 30.3% of these spontaneously. The mortality rate was 15.38%. There was an inverse relationship between anti-insulin antibodies and remission (p = 0.033); and a positive correlation between combined immunosuppressive therapy and remission (p = 0.002). Relapse occurred in 7.6% of the cases. This rare syndrome has difficult-to-control diabetes, even with high doses of insulin, and it is usually associated with autoimmune diseases. Therapeutic advances using immunomodulatory therapy have led to significant improvements in the rate of remission.

Combined Immunosuppressive Therapy Induces Remission in Patients With Severe Type B Insulin Resistance: A Prospective Cohort Study

OBJECTIVE

Type B insulin resistance due to autoantibodies against the insulin receptor is characterized by diabetes refractory to massive doses of insulin, severe hypercatabolism, hyperandrogenism, and a high mortality rate. We analyzed the efficacy of combined immunosuppressive therapy in the management of this extreme form of diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We performed a prospective cohort study including patients with confirmed insulin receptor autoantibodies, monitored for median 72 months (25th, 75th interquartile range 25, 88), and treated with rituximab, high-dose pulsed steroids, and cyclophosphamide until remission, followed by maintenance therapy with azathioprine. Remission was defined as the amelioration of the hyperglycemia and discontinuation of insulin and/or normalization of hyperandrogenemia.

RESULTS

All data are given as median (25th, 75th interquartile range). Twenty-two patients aged 42 (25, 57) years, 86.4% women, fulfilled inclusion criteria. At baseline, fasting glucose was 307 (203, 398) mg/dL, HbA_1c was 11.8% (9.7, 13.6), total testosterone (women) was 126 (57, 571) ng/dL (normal 8-60), and daily insulin requirement was 1,775 (863, 2,700) units. After 5 (4, 6.3) months, 86.4% (19 of 22) of patients achieved remission, documented by discontinuation of insulin in all patients, normal fasting glucose of 80 (76, 92) mg/dL, HbA_1c of 5.5% (5.2, 6), and testosterone (women) of 28 (20, 47) ng/dL. During follow-up of 72 (25, 88) months, 13.6% (3 of 22) of patients developed disease recurrence, occurring 24 (22, 36) months after initial remission, which responded to repeated therapy. None of the patients died.

CONCLUSIONS

Combined immunosuppressive therapy has changed the natural history of this disease, from 54% mortality to a curable form of diabetes and, as such, should be recommended in patients with type B insulin resistance.

Successful treatment of type B insulin resistance with mixed connective tissue disease by pulse glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide

Type B insulin resistance syndrome is a very rare condition caused by autoantibodies against the insulin receptor. We report the successful treatment of a patient with refractory type B insulin resistance with pulse glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide. The medical record of a patient with type B insulin resistance was reviewed. A 36‐year‐old Chinese woman presented with menopause, weight loss and refractory hyperglycemia for 3 months, which could not be controlled by up to 972 of insulin units per day. Mixed connective tissue disease was diagnosed with high titers of antinuclear antibody, ribonucleoprotein antibody and interstitial lung disease. Type B insulin resistance was diagnosed with positive immunoprecipitation assay of anti‐insulin‐receptor antibodies in serum. We started one cycle of pulse methylprednisolone (1,000 mg/day for 3 days) then tapered to prednisone 1 mg/kg/day, and cyclophosphamide 0.4 g/week was added on. Three weeks after pulse glucocorticoid therapy, fasting glucose returned to 4.4 mmol/L. Fasting insulin decreased from 647.27 to 12.95 uIU/mL 6 weeks later. The patient had gained 15 kg during 20 months of uneventful following up, and glycated hemoglobin decreased from 10.1 to 5.1%.In this patient with type B insulin resistance, a combination of pulse glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide was successful in inducing a complete remission. Close cooperation between endocrinologists and rheumatologists will ensure an individualized regimen for this rare condition.