Allergic reaction to recombinant human insulin.
10.4168/aard.2015.3.4.302
- Author:
Seong Jin CHOI
1
;
Min Kwan KWON
;
Moon PARK
;
Soo Ya BAE
;
Hyun Ho OH
;
Jong Ho LEE
;
Ji In MOON
;
Chan Sun PARK
;
Jong Chul WON
;
Kyung Soo KO
;
Byoung Doo RHEE
;
Jung Min KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jmkim.benaiah@paik.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Case Report
- Keywords:
Insulin;
Hypersensitivity;
Skin tests;
Insulin antibodies;
Immunoglobulin E
- MeSH:
Aged;
Anaphylaxis;
Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions;
Female;
Glucose;
Humans*;
Hypersensitivity*;
Immunoglobulin E;
Insulin Antibodies;
Insulin*;
Pruritus;
Skin;
Skin Tests;
Urticaria;
Zinc
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
2015;3(4):302-306
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Insulin-induced allergy is a rare adverse drug reaction since the introduction of recombinant human insulin. However, recombinant insulin-induced allergy is still being reported in 0.1% to 2% of all patients treated with insulin. This allergic reaction varies from mild localized skin reactions to life-threatening anaphylaxis. It has been shown that one-third of insulin allergy cases is related to insulin itself and the remaining occur due to preservatives contained in the insulin preparations, such as protamine, zinc, or metacresol. This case report describes a 75-year-old woman with poorly controlled diabetes who experienced insulin allergy. She complained of urticaria with itching after the injection of insulin. Allergic skin tests showed positive responses to all available human insulin preparations, and specific IgE to human insulin was also detected, which suggested that her urticaria was developed by insulin itself. This is the first case of insulin allergy that was sensitive to all available human insulin preparations and confirmed by the presence of specific IgE to human insulin. It is important to remember that allergic reactions to insulin may be directly associated with adherence and can be the reason of poor glucose control.
