Synonyms
VIPom, Water Diarrhea Hypocalemia
Definition
The Verner-Morrison syndrome describes a malignant degeneration of the pancreas. It is a very rare disease that occurs in one in 1 million people every year. The typical age at which one gets this disease is about 50 years.
This disease is a tumor of the neuroendocrine system (nervous and endocrine system). The glandular cells are affected, so the tumor is classified as adenocarcinoma (carcinoma affecting glands). The degeneration is located in the D1 cells and leads to an altered release of a tissue hormone called “vasoactive polypeptide”.
Primarily, the pancreas produces hormones (messenger substances) and enzymes that help the body to break down and thus digest the individual components of food such as carbohydrates, fats and proteins. VIPom involves a transformation of the D1 cells, which are responsible for the production of the “vasoactive polypepitide” (VIP). The changes in the cells lead to an unhindered and excessive release of the hormone VIP.
Since the Verner-Morrison syndrome leads to an excessive release of the hormone VIP and the “vasoactive polypeptide” is responsible for the release of water from the small intestine, the main symptom is diarrhoea. This is accompanied by a daily fluid loss of 4 – 6 liters. In this context, the body also loses important electrolytes (minerals).
The massive loss of fluid also leads to an excessive excretion of potassium via the intestinal tract. A too low blood potassium content is called hypokalemia. Therefore also the secondary name of the illness Water Diarrhea Hypokalemia, too German are here already the two main symptoms of the illness in the name: The diarrhea (diarrhea) and the decreased potassium level (hypokalemia) in the blood.
The next symptom which appears with the Verner Morrison syndrome, is a too small content of stomach acid in the gastric juice. The vasoactive peptide continues to cause diabetic metabolic problems due to its activity by stimulating glucagon. Furthermore, it can lead to the loss of other minerals such as magnesium (hypomagnesemia) and phosphates (hypophosphatemia) and an accumulation of calcium (hypercalcaemia) in the blood. A flush may occur, in which the patient experiences a seizure-like redness on the face. The high loss of fluid and the associated low potassium levels in the blood can also lead to acute weakening of the kidney (acute renal failure).
