Abstract

Abstract Introduction Hirata's Disease, is a rare condition characterized by episodes of spontaneous hypoglycemia associated with hyperinsulinemia with positive insulin autoantibodies. Hypoglycemia is common in patients with diabetes mellitus especially those who are taking insulin therapy or insulin secretogogues oral medications but spontaneous hypoglycemia is rare and there is no clear figures about those patients in Iraq. We receive a lot of persons claim to have hypoglycemia but most of them fail to fulfill the Whipple triad. Although endogenous hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia especially insulinoma is very rare condition, it is still concern for endocrinologist in patients presented with presumed hypoglycemia. Clinical Case A 43 year old female presented with frequent fainting attacks over several weeks. She has no past medical history a part of localized areas of vertigo for which she received no systematic treatment. Initial medical evaluation was unremarkable but with documented hypoglycemia below 40 mg/dl. She has normal heart, brain, kidney, liver, thyroid and adrenal function. She has multiple emergency admissions treatment with glucose infusion. She gains more weight as she eats more to avoid hypoglycemia. Her specific lab during the attack shows high serum insulin level (141.10 mIU/ml) with high C-peptide 18.55 ng/ml Work up for insulinoma shows normal MRI abdomen, normal endoscopic ultrasound and negative PET Gallium 68 scan. There are no previous reports of Insulin autoimmune syndrome in Iraq. The insulin autoantibodies in this patient were very high (more than 300.00 U/ml) which highly suggestive of this syndrome after excluding other factors that may cause elevation of these autoantibodies. Patient condition persist for about eight months and was advised for small multiple meals and diazoxide was not used much because it is not available in Iraq widely. Her condition resolved spontaneously after one year with dietary modifications. Conclusion Hirata syndrome is very rare but important cause of spontaneous hypoglycemia that should not be ignored. Up to our knowledge this is the first documented case in Iraq.

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