title: Prolonged hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in a small for date preterm.
abstract: Hyperinsulinism is an important cause of hypoglycemia in early infancy. Many forms of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia are described: transient, prolonged, persistent. Transient forms are well recognized in infants of diabetic mother; prolonged forms are responsible for the hypoglycemia in small-for-date (SGA) infants and asphyxiated newborns. Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia occurs in a group of congenital disorders associated with an abnormality of beta-cell regulation throughout the pancreas. Accurate diagnosis and treatment are essential in all various forms of hyperinsulinism also because newborns are at high risk of permanent brain damage. We report a case of prolonged hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia in a SGA preterm, immediately treated with a high dose of glucose and glucocorticoid and then with diazoxide. Hypoglycemia was continued until 2 months of age when it resolved spontaneously and completely.
authors.affiliation: Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pezzati
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barni
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chiti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Danesi
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Rubaltelli
mesh_terms: D005947:Glucose / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006946:Hyperinsulinism / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D019102:Infant, Very Low Birth Weight; D008297:Male; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose