Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia
- 1Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- 2Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Peninsula Medical School, Exeter, UK
- 3Department of Child Health, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK
- K Hussain, Developmental Endocrinology Research Group, Molecular Genetics Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; K.Hussain{at}ich.ucl.ac.uk
- Accepted 27 January 2009
- Published Online First 4 February 2009
Abstract
Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) occurs as a consequence of unregulated insulin secretion from pancreatic β cells. In the newborn period it is the most common cause of severe and persistent hypoglycaemia. As HH is a major risk factor for brain injury and subsequent neurodevelopment handicap, the identification, rapid diagnosis and prompt management of patients with HH is essential if brain damage is to be avoided. Advances in molecular genetics, radiological imaging techniques (such as fluorine-18 L-3, 4-dihydroxyphenylalanine positron emission tomography (18FDOPA-PET) scanning) and laparoscopic surgery have completely changed the clinical approach to infants with the severe congenital forms of HH. This review gives an outline of the clinical presentation, the diagnostic cascade, the underlying molecular mechanisms and the management of HH with a particular focus on congenital forms of hyperinsulinism.
Footnotes
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Competing interests: None declared.
