Immunological resistance to human biosynthetic insulin--effects of immunosuppression and plasmapheresis

Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 1993 Jan;19(1):83-9. doi: 10.1016/0168-8227(93)90148-x.

Abstract

A 55-year-old gentleman, after being treated for a short time with a diet and with Chlorpropamide, was switched to purified porcine insulin due to ketonuria and ketoacidosis. After a year the patient developed immunological insulin resistance (mean daily insulin dose: 3.72 U/kg body weight; anti-insulin antibodies 78%). In order to lower anti-insulin antibodies human recombinant DNA insulin was introduced into further therapy. Contrary to expectations, the patient did not reduce whatsoever his anti-insulin antibodies and his daily insulin dose increased up to 5.63 U/kg body weight. Introduction of combined immunosuppressive therapy (prednisone plus azathioprine) together with plasmapheresis resulted in rapid lowering of daily insulin requirement and reduction in anti-insulin antibodies. Immunosuppressive therapy was continued with 10 mg of prednisone and a year later the patients insulin daily requirement was 0.66 U/kg BW while his antibodies were 18%. The possible causes of insulin resistance to human recombinant DNA insulin are discussed as well as the advantage of combined immunosuppressive therapy together with plasmapheresis that was used for rapid lowering of insulin daily requirement and anti-insulin antibodies titer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Azathioprine / therapeutic use
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / blood
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / drug therapy
  • Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / therapy
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Insulin / immunology
  • Insulin / pharmacology*
  • Insulin / therapeutic use
  • Insulin Antibodies / biosynthesis
  • Insulin Antibodies / pharmacology
  • Insulin Resistance / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Plasmapheresis*
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Recombinant Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Insulin
  • Insulin Antibodies
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Azathioprine
  • Prednisone