Hypoglycemia secondary to metastases to the liver. A case report and review of the literature.
A 76-year-old man presented with hypoglycemic coma associated with metastatic liver disease. Serum immunoreactive insulin excluded insulinoma as a cause of hypoglycemia. Negative glucose responses to glucagon and epinephrine testing indicated failure of compensatory glycogenolysis. The patient's increased glucose requirements of 500 g per 24 hr were reduced to normal only after shrinkage of the liver tumor bulk was accomplished with chemotherapy. Hepatic hypoglycemia is discussed and the literature is reviewed.
D000368:Aged; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000209:etiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil