Hypoglycemia as a Symptom of Neoplastic Disease, with a focus on Insulin-like Growth Factors Producing Tumors

This article reviews the current knowledge of uncommon causes of hypoglycemia, with a focus on neoplastic disease. However, these situations are rare. They commonly accompany severely ill patients and therefore a proper diagnosis is the basis for relevant treatment. Here we discuss the pathophysiological foundation of hypoglycemia - situations caused by increased insulin production or sensitivity - but we also focus on different cytokines which could cause hypoglycemia, especially IGF-II production in what are called nonislet cell tumors. From the clinical perspective we can divide the patients who are affected into "seemingly ill” or “healthy patients” and lead the diagnostic process accordingly.

Source: Journal of Cancer - December 14, 2019 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Jan Schovanek, Lubica Cibickova, Filip Ctvrtlik, Zbynek Tudos, David Karasek, Maurizio Iacobone, Zdenek Frysak Tags: Review Source Type: research