[Leucine sensitive hypoglycemia. Follow-up studies under treatment with diazoxide (author's transl)]

Abstract

Since 1969 leucine sensitive hypoglycemia has been diagnosed in 4 infants. Elevated serum insulin levels suggested hyperinsulinism; in 1 infant islet cell hyperplasia was demonstrated by morphological examination of pancreatic tissue. All cases were treated with diazoxide and have been followed under therapy for periods ranging from 4 months to 6 1/4 years. The upper limit of dosage was 15 mg/kg. The blood glucose values promptly became normal in 2 infants under this regimen. The development of these patients was normal. In the 2 other infants treatment was effective only after the additional restriction of daily protein intake to 2-2.5 g/kg. Severe cerebral damage occurred in one of these infants due to recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia, causing further development to be considerably restricted; the other one developed satisfactorily but with moderate mental retardation. Both children are suffering from cerebral convulsions. In all patients hypertrichosis was the only side effect.