Reversal of pentamidine-induced hypoglycaemia with oral diazoxide.
Hypoglycaemia is a common and occasionally life-threatening complication of therapy with pentamidine isethionate. We observed inappropriately elevated insulin levels in a patient with Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and pentamidine-induced hypoglycaemia. Oral diazoxide was effective in reversing the marked hypoglycaemia. Pentamidine may exert its hypoglycaemic effect by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas.
D000328:Adult; D000578:Amidines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003981:Diazoxide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy
D000578:Amidines; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D010419:Pentamidine; D003981:Diazoxide