Skip to main content
Log in

Pulmonary edema and electrocardiographic findings resembling coronary occlusion in insulin treatment

Report of a case

  • Published:
The Psychiatric Quarterly Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary and Conclusions

  1. 1.

    A case of acute pulmonary edema occurring during insulin shock treatment is presented.

  2. 2.

    Electrocardiographic tracings resembling those seen in coronary occlusion are shown.

  3. 3.

    In cases of pulmonary edema during insulin treatment, electrocardiographic studies should be made. These may lead to a more adequate understanding of the myocardial and pulmonary changes, and the relation between them during hypoglycemia.

  4. 4.

    Electrocardiographic changes produced during insulin shock treatment may indicate disturbance of the cardiac conduction system rather than disturance of the myocardium proper or of the coronary vessels. The latter two are suspected but not definitely proved to be involved.

  5. 5.

    The presence of mild myocardial disease need not necessarily preclude treatment, but should dictate extreme caution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

Bibliography

  • Bayer, G.: Anatomy and physiology of the suprarenal glands. Cyclopedia of Med., Surg., and Specialties, 1:165, 1939.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beiglboch, W., and Dussik, K.: The physiology of the hypoglycemic shock in the treatment of schizophrenia. Am. J. Psychiat., 94:50, Suppl., May, 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, A. R., and Goldfarb, W.: Complete heart block occurring during insulin shock therapy. Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat., 48:476, September, 1942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Best, C. H., and Taylor, H. B.: The Physiological Basis of Medical Practice. P. 299. William Wood & Co. 1937.

  • Dameshek, W., and Myerson, A.: Insulin hypoglycemia: mechanism of the neurologic symptoms. Arch. Neurol and Psychiat., 33:1, January, 1935.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Farrell, M. J., and Vassaf, E.: Effect of insulin shock on the heart and blood pressure. Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat., 43:784, April, 1940.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farber, S.: Studies on pulmonary edema. J. Exper. Med., 66:405, 1937.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furst, W.: Insulin shock treatment. Am. J. Psychiat., 97:380, September, 1940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, D.: The electrocardiogram in insulin shock. Arch. Int. Med., 66:93, July, 1940.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottesfeld, B. H.: Use of adrenal cortex extract in cases of insulin shock complicated by pulmonary edema. Arch. Neurol. and Psychiat., 49:304, February, 1943.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadorn, W.: Insulin and the circulation. Am. J. Psychiat., 94:89, Suppl., May, 1938.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heilbrunn, G., and Liebert, E.: Adrenalin level in blood serum during insulin hypoglycemia. Endocrinology, 23:354, September, 1939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McKendree, O. J.: Insulin treatment and its complications in the treatment of the psychoses.Psychiat. Quart., 12:444, July, 1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Messinger, E.: Cardiovascular changes associated with insulin shock treatment. Ann. Int. Med., 12:853, December, 1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nielsen, J. M., et al.: Pulmonary edema and embolism. J. A. M. A., 111:2455, 1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nikolajeves: Cited by Weil.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Neill, F. J.: Serious complications of insulin shock therapy.Psychiat. Quart., 12:455, July, 1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pessin, J.: Blood pressure changes following insulin shock treatment. J. Nerv. and Ment. Dis., 90:180, August, 1939.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schatner, M., and O’Neill, F. J.: Some observations in the treatment of dementia præcox with hypoglycemia.Psychiat. Quart., 12:11, January, 1938.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sonenthal, I. R., and Low, A.: Electrocardiographic studies after treatment with insulin and metrazol. J. Nerv. and Ment. Dis., 91:423, April, 1940.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weil, A.: Acute cardiovascular collapse after insulin shock treatment. J. Nerv. and Ment. Dis., 96:556, November, 1942.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gralnick, A. Pulmonary edema and electrocardiographic findings resembling coronary occlusion in insulin treatment. Psych Quar 18, 650–659 (1944). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01569067

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01569067

Keywords

Navigation