| Abstract: | Marked hyperglycaemia (30.9 mmol l−1) during interferon-γ (IFN-γ) therapy for asymptomatic recurrent renal cancer as multiple lung metastases in a 52-year-old man is described. Although the involvement of IFN-γ has been reported in the development of autoimmune diabetes, in this case, antibodies against pancreatic β-cells including anti-islet cell antibody (ICA) and anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) antibody were negative. Moreover, serum level of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) (11 μU ml−1 at fasting) and urinary excretion of C-peptide (108 μ g day−1, reference range: 20–130) suggested insulin resistance, supported by results of insulin tolerance tests. With insulin therapy and cessation of IFN-γ, fasting blood glucose concentration returned to 6.2 mmol l−1, and insulin therapy was discontinued. The injection of IFN-γ may cause hyperglycaemia because of insulin resistance, rather than β-cell injury. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
