Immediate-Type Human Insulin Allergy Successfully Treated by Continuous Subcutaneous Insulin Infusion

Abstract

A 63-year-old insulin-dependent diabetic woman was hospitalized with itchy skin wheals at the injection sites of human insulin. After intradermal skin testing was performed, the erythema and wheal was recorded immediately. The increased titer of human insulin-specific IgE antibody indicated immediate-type allergy against human insulin. Administration of an anti-allergic drug or desensitization for human insulin every 2 hours was not effective. After continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy was performed, both the itching and wheal disappeared. The process may be a desensitization through CSII. CSII may be useful in the treatment for human insulin allergy.
(Internal Medicine 36: 575-578, 1997)