title: Diazoxide treatment for insulinoma: a national UK survey.
abstract: A survey of UK patients receiving the drug diazoxide, revealed 40 patients with insulinoma on this treatment. Mean age (+/- SD) was 67 +/- 18 years, and 74% were female. Duration of treatment was 7 +/- 6 years (range 1-22). Most (55%) patients were treated with diazoxide because of tumour non-localisation (including failed previous surgery). Metastatic disease (20%) and poor surgical risk (10%) were other indications. Side-effects (notably fluid retention and hirsutism) were common (47%) but not troublesome. Treatment was highly effective--59% were symptom free and 38% had only occasional symptoms. Only one patient had frequent hypoglycaemia despite treatment. We conclude that diazoxide is effective in the management of insulinoma. Side-effects are common but not problematic. Treatment should be considered for all patients not cured by surgery, or unsuitable for surgical treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Walton Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Rauf
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003981:Diazoxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007340:Insulinoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D003981:Diazoxide