Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in preterm neonates
- London Centre for Paediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK and Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Correspondence to:
Dr Hussain
Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK; K.Hussainich.ucl.ac.uk
- Accepted 17 February 2003
Abstract
Hyperinsulinism in infancy (HI) is an important cause of severe and recurrent hypoglycaemia in newborn infants. It usually appears in infants born at term, and only one case of its occurrence in a prematurely born infant has been reported as an incidental finding. This is a report of seven infants born at 31–36 weeks gestation who experienced severe persistent hyperinsulinism. Two infants were large for dates. All infants were difficult to manage, suggesting that the occurrence of HI with prematurity may be associated with a particularly aggressive illness. HI should be considered in the differential diagnosis of severe hypoglycaemia in preterm infants.
