Diazoxide in the Treatment of Infantile Hypoglycemia

IN the majority of infants with chronic hypoglycemia the specific origin of the disorder cannot be identified. Regardless of etiology, correction of the hypoglycemia is essential to prevent mental retardation. Except in the rare case of islet-cell adenoma pancreatic surgery in infants with hypoglycemic states has given disappointing results. Attempts to elevate the blood glucose with ACTH,1 glucocorticoids,2 , 3 long acting epinephrine,4 zinc glucagon,5 6 7 glutamic acid,8 human growth hormone9 10 11 and a low-leucine diet12 have yielded variable results. Of these methods it appears that only human growth hormone affords continuous control of blood glucose, but its limited availability has restricted its use. . . .