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Insulin, C-peptide and proinsulin for the biochemical diagnosis of hypoglycaemia related to endogenous hyperinsulinism

Department of Endocrinology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Rangueil, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhès, TSA 50032, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France and ¹ Department of Biochemistry, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Purpan, 1 Place du Docteur Baylac, 31059 Toulouse Cedex 9, France

(Correspondence should be addressed to P Caron; Email: caron.p{at}chu-toulouse.fr)

Objective: We evaluated the respective value of insulin, C-peptide and proinsulin levels in 33 patients with endogenous hyperinsulinism and in 67 controls to determine the best parameters and thresholds to make or to rule out the diagnosis of endogenous hyperinsulinism.

Results: When blood glucose levels were below 2.5 mmol/l, insulin was <21 pmol/l in 8–35% of the patients and in all controls; C-peptide was >0.2 nmol/l in all insulinomas but not in the nesidioblastosis or in the controls; proinsulin was >5 pmol/l in all patients but not in the controls. When fasting blood glucose levels reached 2.5–3.3 mmol/l, proinsulin was <22 pmol/l in all the controls and >22 pmol/l in 74% of the patients. Proinsulin after an overnight fast was below 22 pmol/l in all non-obese controls and above 22 pmol/l in 73% of non-obese patients.

Conclusion: Proinsulin levels above 5 pmol/l with blood glucose levels below 2.5 mmol/l during a 72 h fast test represent the best criterion for the diagnosis of endogenous hyperinsulinism, reaching 100% diagnostic specificity and sensitivity. Concomitant C-peptide levels above 0.2 nmol/l also make the diagnosis of all our insulinoma patients, not the diagnosis of nesidioblastosis, while insulin levels have much less diagnostic accuracy. Whether proinsulin levels above 22 pmol/l could also make the diagnosis of endogenous hyperinsulinism in part of the patients at the time of fasting blood glucose levels between 2.5 and 3.3 mmol/l or after an overnight fast in non-obese subjects needs further study.