Glucagonoma syndrome

Overview

Glucagonoma syndrome: A rare condition characterized by a tumor which secretes glucagon and a characteristic spreading rash, diabetes mellitus and various other symptoms.

Symptoms

The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Glucagonoma syndrome includes the 15 symptoms listed below: * Weight loss * Pallor * Necrolytic migratory erythema * Crusty sores * Oozing sores * Spreading sores * Blisters * Inflammation of mouth * Tongue inflammation * Neuropsychiatric disturbance * Pancreatic tumor * Normochromic anemia * Hyperglycemia * Low blood amino acid level * Depression

Causes

* Osmotic: Presence of nonabsorbable solute, pH 6, volume >200 mL/day, no response to fasting, stool Na >70 mEq/L, negative reducing substances * Toddler's diarrhea: Chronic nonspecific diarrhea, onset 3 months to 3 years of age, average 4–6 stools daily, due to excessive juice intake or low-fat diet * Excessive intake of nonabsorbable solutes (lactulose, sorbitol, magnesium hydroxide) * Congenital lactose deficiency: Very rare in infancy, but may occur in extremely premature infants; adult-onset type of hypolactasia may be seen in older children (over age 5), autosomal recessive, 15% white adults, 85% of black adults, 90% of Asian adults * Secondary lactase deficiency: Follows a viral gastroenteritis, most commonly rotavirus, may persist for months * Fructose intolerance * Sucrase-isomaltase deficiency: Autosomal recessive, found in 0.2% of North Americans, symptoms commence on starting sucrose or glucose polymer-containing foods * Glucose-galactose malabsorption: Rare, autosomal recessive disorder o Infections –Giardiasis (most common infectious cause of chronic diarrhea in toddlers) –Cryptosporidium –Microsporidium o Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) –Abnormality of intestinal motility and pain perception with no organic basis –Abdominal pain associated with intermittent diarrhea or constipation * Bacterial overgrowth: Enteric bacteria colonizes the upper small intestine * Trehelase deficiency (trehelose is the sugar found in mushrooms) * Zinc deficiency –Acrodermatitis enteropathica is typical rash * Low-fat diet

Diagnosis

Home medical testing related to Glucagonoma syndrome: * High Cholesterol: Home Testing: o Home Cholesterol Tests o Home Triglycerides Tests o Home Blood Pressure Tests * High Blood Pressure: Home Testing o Home Blood Pressure Monitors o Home Heart Tests * Heart Health: Home Testing: o Heart Rate Monitors o Irregular Heartbeat Detection o Heart Electrocardiogram (ECG) * Thyroid: Home Testing: o Home Thyroid Function Tests o Home TSH Tests o Home Adrenal Function Tests * Diet & Weight Loss: Home Testing: o Home Weight Testing o Home Body Fat Testing (BMI) o Home Body Fat Monitoring o Home Fitness Testing * Diabetes: Related Home Testing: o Home Diabetes Tests o Home Blood Glucose Tests o Home Urine Glucose Tests o Home Urine Ketone Tests o Home Diabetes HbA1c Tests o Home Microalbumin Tests (Kidney) o Home Urine Protein Tests (Kidney) o Home Kidney Tests o Home Eye Tests

Treatment

* Treatment is directed at cause * Chronic nonspecific diarrhea –Restriction of fluid intake to