Abstract
The cause of insulin lipoatrophy has remained unknown. The highly purified insulin preparation, Monocomponent Insulin (MC Insulin), has been reported by some investigators to be useful for the treatment of insulin lipoatrophy. However, we encountered a diabetic woman treated only with MC Insulin who demonstrated insulin lipoatrophy. She had been treated for 5 years with the MC Insulin and produced insulin antibody in her serum. The insulin antibody and a-component antibody in her serum were frequently examined from the commencement of the MC Insulin therapy. Slight subcutaneous fat atrophy was demonstrated in the regions of insulin injection in the extremities after treatment for 2 years, when the level of insulin antibody was maximal. The level of insulin antibody decreased gradually after that time. On the other hand, the subcutaneous fat atrophy became increasingly clear. A-component antibody was not demonstrated during the first 4 years, but was produced after 4 years.
The results for this case suggested the possibility that insulin lipoatrophy could even be induced by MC Insulin injections, and the insulin lipoatrophy might be due to insulin impurities such as a-component.
