Glucagonoma-induced acute heart failure

Neuroendocrine tumours (NET) cover a broad spectrum of different hormone-secreting tumours of which, the glucagon-producing tumours of the pancreas are fairly rare and can be associated with syndromes such as MEN1.

Zhang et al., report on a patient with glucagonoma who presented with left ventricular heart failure and developed cardiogenic shock despite therapy. Heart failure eventually regressed after initialising i.v. treatment with the somatostatin analogue octreotide.

They therefore suggest that cardiac function should be monitored in a routine manner in all NET patients.

Read full Case report by Zhang et al. (2014) Endocrinology, Diabetes, Metabolism Case Reports. Article ID: 14-0061; DOI:10.1530/EDM-014-0061