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Tryptophan metabolites in hypoglycemia associated with neoplasia
Author(s) -
Silverstein Murray N.,
Wakim Khalil G.,
Bahn Robert C.
Publication year - 1966
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(196612)19:12<2024::aid-cncr2820191229>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - hypoglycemia , medicine , urine , endocrinology , tryptophan , gastroenterology , physiology , diabetes mellitus , biology , biochemistry , amino acid
Studies on tryptophan metabolites in the blood and urine of 5 additional patients having symptoms of hypoglycemia associated with neoplasia are reported. Three patients having islet cell tumors and hypoglycemia had normal levels of tryptophan metabolites in the blood and urine during hypoglycemia. A patient with metastatic carcinoma of the breast and a patient with metastatic adrenal carcinoma also had normal values for tryptophan metabolites in the blood and urine during hypoglycemia. These patients are compared with 2 previously reported patients who had extrapancreatic neoplasms, hypoglycemia and high levels of tryptophan metabolites in the blood and urine. The findings suggest that, when a patient has high levels of tryptophan metabolites in the blood and urine during hypoglycemia, a diligent search for extrapancreatic neoplasm should be undertaken. When tryptophan metabolites in the blood and urine are normal during hypoglycemia, a careful search for an islet cell neoplasm is indicated.