Xinxin Wo, Xiaoyan Yu, Lingling Miao, Yushan Mao, Keke Tang

Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People’s Republic of China

Correspondence: Keke Tang, Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo University, Ningbo, People’s Republic of China, Email lcyxtkk@126.com

Purpose: Klinefelter’s syndrome (KS) is the most common sex chromosome disorder in the male population and is characterized by the presence of one or more X chromosomes. Studies have reported that the proportion of KS patients with diabetes is not low. It is also not uncommon for diabetes patients with poorly controlled blood glucose to have a transient mild increase in their carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) levels. This study reports the case of Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) concurrently with a significant increase in CEA levels (reaching 40.8 ng/mL) in patients with KS.
Methods: This middle-aged KS patient was immediately treated for DKA upon admission. A series of exams were performed to exclude the possibility of malignant tumors, and the patient’s glucose and CEA levels were closely monitored.
Results: After excluding the possibility of malignant tumors, the patient’s CEA level gradually decreased to normal after good glycemic control.
Conclusion: This is the first report describing significant increases in CEA levels in KS patients with diabetes, which is of great clinical significance for the treatment of diabetes patients.

Keywords: diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia, Klinefelter’s syndrome, carcinoembryonic antigen