Summary
Secondary diabetes mellitus was the main abnormal finding in a young lean woman with benign extra-adrenal para-aortic norepinephrine and dopamine secreting pheochromocytoma. Glucose and insulin response to oral glucose and C-peptide secretion after glucagon i.v. were evaluated before and after alpha-blockade with phenoxybenzamine. Alpha-blocking treatment restored the inhibited basal and stimulated C-secretion but did not normalize glucose tolerance. After tumor removal metabolic abnormalities were normalized, confirming the role of endogenous catecholamine excess in the pathogenesis of our patient’s glucose intolerance.
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Balestrieri, P.G., Spandrio, S., Romanelli, G. et al. Diabetes mellitus as presenting feature in extra-adrenal pheochromocytoma: Report of a case. Acta diabet. lat 27, 261–265 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02581338
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02581338