Experimental testing of skin reactions to insulin detemir in diabetes patients naïve to insulin detemir

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Sporadic reports on immediate and delayed cutaneous reactions to insulin detemir, a modern insulin analogue, have raised unsupported claims of allergy of type I, III and IV. The purpose of this experimental study using a provocative design was to elucidate the potential mechanisms behind such skin reactions.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients with type 1 diabetes or insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes, all naïve to insulin detemir, were injected on the thigh with 0.l mL of insulin detemir (Levemir(®)) administered with an 8 mm needle at three different depths, i.e. intradermal, subdermal and subcutaneously. Saline was injected as control. Any cutaneous reactions were assessed after 10 and 30 min, after 24 and 48 h and after 7 days. Histopathology of positive reactions on day 7 was obtained. The study was randomized, controlled, double-blinded, and conducted in accordance with ICH-GCP guidelines. Blood flow was recorded with the Periflux PF5010, and skin colour (a*) with the DSMII colorimeter.

RESULTS: Clinical reading, flowmetry and colorimetry consistently showed delayed reactions after intradermal insulin injection (35 of 40 patients reacted with mainly weak reactions, P<0.05), peaking after 48 h, contrasting no special reaction immediately after injection, except for reactions attributed to needle trauma. A total of 22 patients reacted on subdermal injection and 21 on subcutaneous injection. Histopathology on day 7 from 22 reactions in 15 patients showed a consistent pattern of inflammation with eosinophilia as typically observed in adverse skin reactions to a variety of medicines. Reactions were interpreted as non-specific biologic responses to the insulin different from direct toxic actions and classical allergic reaction patterns. Only one person registered itch/discomfort. A prick test vs. histamine reference excluded insulin detemir to be a pharmacological histamine releaser. Thus, provocative testing with insulin detemir produced delayed skin reaction but no immediate reaction. Measurement of circulating insulin detemir-specific antibodies by RIA before and after 3 months showed no increase.

CONCLUSION: Non-allergic delayed skin reactions from intradermal and, to a minor degree, subdermal and subcutaneous injections of insulin detemir were frequent in this experimental study and showed a consistent histology pattern of inflammation with eosinophilia. Immediate reactions were not produced. The reactions are unlikely to be specific for insulin detemir, and other insulins should be studied in a similar provocative design.