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Best Practice & Research. Clinical... Aug 2018Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a heterogeneous condition with dysregulated insulin secretion which persists in the presence of low blood glucose levels. It is... (Review)
Review
Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a heterogeneous condition with dysregulated insulin secretion which persists in the presence of low blood glucose levels. It is the most common cause of severe and persistent hypoglycaemia in neonates and children. Recent advances in genetics have linked congenital HH to mutations in 14 different genes that play a key role in regulating insulin secretion (ABCC8, KCNJ11, GLUD1, GCK, HADH, SLC16A1, UCP2, HNF4A, HNF1A, HK1, PGM1, PPM2, CACNA1D, FOXA2). Histologically, congenital HH can be divided into 3 types: diffuse, focal and atypical. Due to the biochemical basis of this condition, it is essential to diagnose and treat HH promptly in order to avoid the irreversible hypoglycaemic brain damage. Recent advances in the field of HH include new rapid molecular genetic testing, novel imaging methods (18F-DOPA PET/CT), novel medical therapy (long-acting octreotide formulations, mTOR inhibitors, GLP-1 receptor antagonists) and surgical approach (laparoscopic surgery). The review article summarizes the current diagnostic methods and management strategies for HH in children.
Topics: Child; Congenital Hyperinsulinism; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Insulin Secretion; Mutation; Octreotide; Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
PubMed: 30086874
DOI: 10.1016/j.beem.2018.05.014 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022Hypoglycemia in neonates is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental effects. Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia... (Review)
Review
Hypoglycemia in neonates is associated with long-term neurodevelopmental effects. Hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH) is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia in neonatal intensive care units. Diazoxide is the only medication that is currently recommended for treatment of HH in neonates. However, the use of diazoxide in neonates is associated with pulmonary hypertension as an adverse effect. In this article, we review the literature on the mechanism of action and adverse effects with the use of diazoxide in neonatal hyperinsulinism. We then present a case series of neonates treated with diazoxide in our neonatal intensive care unit over a 5-year period. Among 23 neonates who received diazoxide, 4 developed pulmonary hypertension and 1 died. All infants who developed pulmonary hypertension were born preterm at less than 36 weeks gestation and had pre-existing risk factors for pulmonary hypertension. HH in preterm neonates, with pre-existing pulmonary hypertension or with risk factors for pulmonary hypertension requires thoughtful management.
PubMed: 36670556
DOI: 10.3390/children10010005 -
Diabetic Medicine : a Journal of the... Jan 2019Congenital hyperinsulinism is a rare disease, but is the most frequent cause of persistent and severe hypoglycaemia in early childhood. Hypoglycaemia caused by excessive... (Review)
Review
Congenital hyperinsulinism is a rare disease, but is the most frequent cause of persistent and severe hypoglycaemia in early childhood. Hypoglycaemia caused by excessive and dysregulated insulin secretion (hyperinsulinism) from disordered pancreatic β cells can often lead to irreversible brain damage with lifelong neurodisability. Although congenital hyperinsulinism has a genetic cause in a significant proportion (40%) of children, often being the result of mutations in the genes encoding the K channel (ABCC8 and KCNJ11), not all children have severe and persistent forms of the disease. In approximately half of those without a genetic mutation, hyperinsulinism may resolve, although timescales are unpredictable. From a histopathology perspective, congenital hyperinsulinism is broadly grouped into diffuse and focal forms, with surgical lesionectomy being the preferred choice of treatment in the latter. In contrast, in diffuse congenital hyperinsulinism, medical treatment is the best option if conservative management is safe and effective. In such cases, children receiving treatment with drugs, such as diazoxide and octreotide, should be monitored for side effects and for signs of reduction in disease severity. If hypoglycaemia is not safely managed by medical therapy, subtotal pancreatectomy may be required; however, persistent hypoglycaemia may continue after surgery and diabetes is an inevitable consequence in later life. It is important to recognize the negative cognitive impact of early-life hypoglycaemia which affects half of all children with congenital hyperinsulinism. Treatment options should be individualized to the child/young person with congenital hyperinsulinism, with full discussion regarding efficacy, side effects, outcomes and later life impact.
Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Congenital Hyperinsulinism; Diazoxide; Gastrointestinal Agents; Glucagon; Humans; Hypoglycemia; Pancreatectomy; Potassium Channels, Inwardly Rectifying; Precision Medicine; Sulfonylurea Receptors; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 30246418
DOI: 10.1111/dme.13823 -
The Journal of Maternal-fetal &... Dec 2023To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment options of neonates requiring prolonged hospitalization due to persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH).
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the clinical characteristics and treatment options of neonates requiring prolonged hospitalization due to persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH).
METHODS
This retrospective cohort study included infants >34 weeks of gestation at birth who were born in our hospital between 2018 and 2021, diagnosed with HH, and required diazoxide within the first 28 days of life. The baseline clinical characteristics, age at the time of diagnosis and treatment options in diazoxide resistance cases were recorded. Genetic mutation analysis, if performed, was also included.
RESULTS
A total of 32 infants diagnosed with neonatal HH were followed up. Among the cohort, 25 infants were classified as having transient form of HH and seven infants were classified as having congenital hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (CHI). Thirty-one percent of the infants had no risk factors. The median birth weight was significantly higher in the CHI group, whereas no differences were found in other baseline characteristics. Patients diagnosed with CHI required higher glucose infusion rate, higher doses, and longer duration of diazoxide treatment than those in the transient HH group. Eight patients were resistant to diazoxide, and six of them required treatment with octreotide and finally sirolimus. Sirolimus prevented the need of pancreatectomy in five of six patients without causing major side effects. Homozygous mutations in the gene were found in four patients with CHI.
CONCLUSIONS
The risk of persistent neonatal hyperinsulinism should be considered in hypoglycemic neonates particularly located in regions with high rates of consanguinity. Our study demonstrated sirolimus as an effective treatment option in avoiding pancreatectomy in severe cases.
Topics: Infant; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Diazoxide; Retrospective Studies; Congenital Hyperinsulinism; Sirolimus; Mutation
PubMed: 37860935
DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2023.2272014 -
Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism... Jan 2021Tyrosinaemia type 1 (TT1) is a rare inherited disorder of amino acid metabolism typically presenting with liver failure and renal tubular dysfunction. We describe three...
SUMMARY
Tyrosinaemia type 1 (TT1) is a rare inherited disorder of amino acid metabolism typically presenting with liver failure and renal tubular dysfunction. We describe three individuals with TT1 and transient hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH). Two siblings with TT1 and acute liver dysfunction were diagnosed with hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia in the neonatal period. Both siblings were successfully treated with diazoxide/chlorthiazide and treatment was gradually weaned and stopped after 8 and 6 months of age respectively. The third patient presented with a neonatal liver failure with mild cholestasis, coagulopathy, fundus haemorrhages, vitamin A and E deficiency and hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia. He maintained euglycaemia on high dose diazoxide (5-12 mg/kg/day) but developed pulmonary hypertension at 12 weeks of age. After discontinuation of diazoxide, he continued maintaining his blood glucose (BG) within the normal range. Although histological abnormalities of the pancreas including beta-cell hyperplasia are well documented, the exact mechanism of excessive insulin secretion in TT1 is not well understood. It may be related to the accumulation of toxic metabolites in the target organs including pancreas. Therefore, in patients with TT1 and persistent hypoglycaemia beyond the recovery of the acute liver failure, it is important to exclude hyperinsulinism which is usually transient and can be successfully treated with diazoxide and chlorothiazide. Further studies are required to determine which factors contribute to excessive insulin secretion in patients with TT1.
LEARNING POINTS
Every child with TT1 should be monitored for signs and symptoms of hypoglycaemia and screened for HH at the time of real hypoglycaemia. If hypoglycaemic episodes persist even after improvement of liver function, hyperinsulinism should be suspected. Treatment with diazoxide is effective, however, children need to be monitored closely for possible side effects. The pathophysiological mechanism of hyperinsulinism in children with TT1 is not elucidated yet and further studies are required to determine which factors contribute to excessive insulin secretion in patients with TT1.
PubMed: 33431709
DOI: 10.1530/EDM-20-0174 -
PloS One 2021Diazoxide is the first-line drug for treating hyperinsulinism and the only pharmacological agent approved for hyperinsulinism by the Federal Drug Administration. This... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Diazoxide is the first-line drug for treating hyperinsulinism and the only pharmacological agent approved for hyperinsulinism by the Federal Drug Administration. This systemic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of diazoxide for treating hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (HH). The meta-analysis of the efficacy and safety of diazoxide in treating HH was performed by searching relevant studies in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases. The findings were summarized, and the pooled effect size and its 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. A total of 6 cohort studies, involving 1142 participants, met the inclusion criteria. Among the cohort studies, the pooled estimate of the response rate of diazoxide therapy was 71% (95% CI 50%-93%, Pheterogeneity< 0.001, I2 = 98.3%, Peffect< 0.001). The common side effects were hypertrichosis (45%), fluid retention (20%), gastrointestinal reaction (13%), edema (11%), and neutropenia (9%). Other adverse events included pulmonary hypertension (2%) and thrombocytopenia (2%). This meta-analysis suggested that diazoxide was potentially useful in HH management; however, it had some side effects, which needed careful monitoring. Furthermore, well-designed large-scale studies, such as randomized controlled trials, might be necessary in the future to obtain more evidence.
Topics: Antihypertensive Agents; Diazoxide; Humans; Hyperinsulinism; Hypertrichosis; Hypoglycemia; Treatment Outcome; Vasodilator Agents
PubMed: 33571197
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246463 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), although a rare disease, is an important cause of severe hypoglycemia in early infancy and childhood, causing preventable morbidity and... (Review)
Review
Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI), although a rare disease, is an important cause of severe hypoglycemia in early infancy and childhood, causing preventable morbidity and mortality. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment is necessary to prevent hypoglycaemia mediated brain damage. At present, the medical treatment of CHI is limited to diazoxide as first line and synthetic somatostatin receptor ligands (SRLs) as second line options; therefore understanding somatostatin biology and treatment perspectives is important. Under healthy conditions, somatostatin secreted from pancreatic islet δ-cells reduces insulin release through somatostatin receptor induced cAMP-mediated downregulation and paracrine inhibition of β- cells. Several SRLs with extended duration of action are now commercially available and are being used off-label in CHI patients. Efficacy remains variable with the present generation of SRLs, with treatment effect often being compromised by loss of initial response and adverse effects such as bowel ischaemia and hepatobiliary dysfunction. In this review we have addressed the biology of the somatostatin system contexualised to CHI. We have discussed the clinical use, limitations, and complications of somatostatin agonists and new and emerging therapies for CHI.
Topics: Biology; Child; Congenital Hyperinsulinism; Diazoxide; Humans; Insulin; Ligands; Receptors, Somatostatin; Somatostatin
PubMed: 36237195
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.921357 -
European Journal of Pediatrics Aug 2019Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a major cause of hypoglycaemia in the neonatal period, infancy and childhood. It is caused by unsuppressed insulin secretion in... (Review)
Review
Hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia (HH) is a major cause of hypoglycaemia in the neonatal period, infancy and childhood. It is caused by unsuppressed insulin secretion in the setting of hypoglycaemia and carries a high risk of significant neurological sequelae, such as cognitive impairment. Genetic mutations have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the condition. Other causes include intra-uterine growth retardation, perinatal asphyxia, maternal diabetes mellitus and syndromes, such as Beckwith-Wiedemann. Based on the aetiology, the clinical presentation can range from absence of symptoms to the typical adrenergic symptoms and coma and even death. The diagnosis is based on biochemical findings and the gold-standard imaging technique is 18F-DOPA PET/CT scanning. Treatment options involve medications, such as diazoxide, nifedipine, glucagon and octreotide, as well as surgery. Novel treatment, such as long-acting octreotide, lanreotide and sirolimus, may be used as an alternative to pancreatectomy. Potential future medical treatments include exendin, a GLP-1 receptor antagonist, and glucagon infusion via a pump.Conclusion: Advances in the fields of genetic testing, imaging techniques and medical treatment are beginning to provide novel insights into earlier detection, less invasive treatment approaches and fewer complications associated with the complex entity of hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia. What is Known: • HH is caused by dysregulated insulin release from the β cell due to genetic mutations and carries a risk for complications, such as neurocognitive impairment. 18F-DOPA PET/CT scanning is presented as the gold-standard imaging technique currently in children with hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemia. • Clinical presentation is heterogeneous and treatment options include medical therapy and pancreatectomy. What is New: • 18F-DOPA PET/CT is indicated in suspected focal CHI due to paternal transmitted mutations in ABCC8 or KCNJ11. • Novel treatment options have been introduced, such as long-acting octreotide, lanreotide, sirolimus and selective nonpeptide somatostatin receptor subtype 5 (SSTR5) agonists. Future medical treatments include exendin, a GLP-1 antagonist, and glucagon infusion via a pump. However, all these options are off-label at present.
Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Combined Modality Therapy; Congenital Hyperinsulinism; Genetic Markers; Genetic Testing; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn
PubMed: 31243576
DOI: 10.1007/s00431-019-03414-8 -
Tuberculosis Research and Treatment 2020There is an urgent need for better and safer therapeutic interventions for tuberculosis (TB). We assessed the effects of FDA-approved ion transport modulators, namely,...
There is an urgent need for better and safer therapeutic interventions for tuberculosis (TB). We assessed the effects of FDA-approved ion transport modulators, namely, ambroxol HCl, amiloride HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), metformin, omeprazole, pantoprazole, phenytoin, verapamil, and drug X and Y on the growth of free and intracellular BCG. Free and intracellular BCG were cultured in the presence or absence of the test drugs for 3 to 9 days and then quantified. For both free and intracellular bacteria, cultures that were exposed to furosemide, phenytoin, or drug Y yielded lower bacteria counts compared to drug-free controls ( < 0.05). The same was observed with diazoxide, HCTZ, verapamil, and drug X, but only for intracellular BCG ( < 0.05). To assess the effects of the drugs on bactericidal activity of rifampicin, free and intracellular BCG were treated with rifampicin alone or in combination with each of the thirteen test drugs for 3 to 9 days. For extracellular bacteria, higher bacteria clearance rates were observed in cultures exposed to rifampicin in combination with amiloride HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, HCTZ, metformin, pantoprazole, phenytoin, drug X, or drug Y than those exposed to rifampicin alone, indicating that rifampicin had a synergistic effect with these test drugs. Rifampicin was also synergistic with ambroxol HCl, diazoxide, digoxin, furosemide, HCTZ, omeprazole, pantoprazole, phenytoin, verapamil, and drug X against intracellular BCG. The antimycobacterial properties exhibited by the ion transport modulators in this study make them viable candidates as adjuncts to the current anti-TB regimens.
PubMed: 33294223
DOI: 10.1155/2020/3767915 -
Hormones (Athens, Greece) Oct 2016Insulinoma is the most common neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. Surgical management of insulinomas is considered to be the only curative method. However, effective... (Review)
Review
Insulinoma is the most common neuroendocrine tumor of the pancreas. Surgical management of insulinomas is considered to be the only curative method. However, effective glycemic control preoperatively and in unresectable insulinomas remains a significant issue. Hyperinsulinism, occurring as a result of the hormone-secreting tumor, leads to life-threatening hypoglycemia episodes which require urgent medical treatment. This article discusses current management of hypoglycemia in insulinoma patients, including: education and lifestyle modifications, pharmacotherapy (diazoxide, somatostatin analogs, mTOR inhibitor - everolimus), cytoreductive methods and continuous glucose monitoring systems.
Topics: Humans; Hypoglycemia; Insulinoma; Pancreatic Neoplasms
PubMed: 28222404
DOI: 10.14310/horm.2002.1706