Long COVID-19 and Insulin Autoimmune Syndrome: A Case Report

• Published in: Clinical therapeutics Vol. 45; no. 9; pp. e187 - e192
• Main Authors: Corona-Meraz, Fernanda Isadora, Quintero-Castillo, Blanca Perla, Hernández-Palma, Luis Alexis, Machado-Sulbaran, Andrea Carolina
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2023; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Antibodies; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmunity; Azathioprine; Body composition; Carbohydrates; Case reports; Consciousness; Convulsions; COVID-19; Cytomegalovirus; Diabetes; Diet; Disease; Fainting; Glucose; Hot flash; Hypoglycemia; Immunoassay; Immunological tolerance; Infections; Insulin; Insulin resistance; Internal Medicine; Laboratories; Long COVID; Long COVID-19; Metabolism; Paramedics; Patients; Peptides; Remission; SARS-CoV-2; Seizures; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Sweating; Vaccination; Viral infections; Autoimmunity; SARS-CoV-2; Azathioprine; Insulin; Long COVID-19
• ISSN: 0149-2918; 1879-114X; 1879-114X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2023.06.026

To describe a case report of a patient with symptoms associated with metabolic alterations 1 month after having COVID-19. Laboratory tests, clinical evaluations, and body composition assessments were performed by specialists. The patient presented excessive sweating, hot flashes, dizziness, blurred vision, and seizure. Laboratory tests indicated low glucose levels after convulsions (50, 42.7, and 55 mg/dL), high insulin levels (basal, 638 µIU/mL; 2-hour, >1000 µU/mL), and positivity for anti-insulin antibodies. The patient was diagnosed with insulin autoimmune syndrome. Treatment with azathioprine and nutritional recommendations improved remission. SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination might induce insulin tolerance failure.