 |
|
Distinguishing Features of Idiopathic Flushing and Carcinoid Syndrome
Leslie Brown Aldrich, MD;
A. Reza Moattari, MD;
Aaron I. Vinik, MD
Arch Intern Med. 1988;148(12):2614-2618.
Abstract
• We compared the clinical and biochemical profiles of 11 patients with idiopathic flushing (IF) with those of eight patients with carcinoid syndrome (CS). Patients with IF were more often women, had a longer duration of symptoms, and were younger. Palpitations, syncope, and hypotension occurred only in patients with IF, while wheezing and abdominal pain occurred only with CS; diarrhea occurred in both types of patients. Elevated blood serotonin levels were present primarily in CS. Increased levels of urine 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid was specific for CS but unsufficiently sensitive to detect all cases. Abnormalities of gut and vasoactive peptides failed to distinguish the two conditions. Flushing in carcinoid patients responds uniformly to octreotide (Sandostatin), but only one third of the patients with IF are relieved of the symptom. Patients with IF have features that distinguish them from individuals with flushing from other causes, such as CS, postmenopausal state, chlorpropamide-alcohol flush, panic attacks, medullary thyroid carcinoma, and autonomic epilepsy. Familiarity with the clinical and biochemical features of IF should facilitate evaluation and identification of these patients.
(Arch Intern Med 1988;148:2614-2618)
Author Affiliations
From the Department of Internal Medicine, Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.
Footnotes
Accepted for publication June 30, 1988.
Reprint requests to 2922B Taubman Health Care Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0331 (Dr Vinik).
 CiteULike  Connotea  Delicious  Digg  Facebook  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter
What's this?
THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES
Cholecystokinin-4 and Panic
ABELSON and NESSE
Arch Gen Psychiatry 1990;47:395-395.
ABSTRACT
|
