A case of systemic lupus erythematosus presenting as hypoglycemia due to anti-insulin receptor antibodies

We describe herein a patient with hypoglycemia due to anti-insulin receptor antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A 40-year-old Japanese woman with a 10-year follow-up for SLE was admitted with hypoglycemia. Her blood test revealed the presence of anti-insulin receptor antibody, normal level of insulin and C-peptide, and negative for anti-insulin antibody. Her symptoms responded well to the therapy of predonisolone (30 mg/day) and continuous intravenous glucose as anti-insulin receptor antibody became negative. We emphasize here the significance of these antibodies in complicating the SLE-associated hypoglycemia.