Novel Insights from Clinical Practice

Long-Term Non-Surgical Therapy of Severe Persistent Congenital Hyperinsulinism with Glucagon
K. Mohnike^a, O. Blankenstein^b, A. Pfuetzner^c, S. Pötzsch^a, E. Schober^d, S. Steiner^c, O.T. Hardy^e, A. Grimberg^e, W.M. van Waarde<sup>f

a</sup>Department of Pediatrics, Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg and
^bCharité University of Medicine, Berlin, Germany;
^cPharmaceutical Discovery Corp., Elmsford, New York, N.Y., USA;
^dDepartment Pediatrics, University of Vienna, Austria;
^eDivision of Pediatric Endocrinology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa., USA, and
^fDepartment of Pediatric Endocrinology, University Hospital of Groningen, The Netherlands

Address of Corresponding Author

Horm Res 2008;70:59-64 (DOI: 10.1159/000129680)

  Key Words

• Congenital hyperinsulinism
• Continuous subcutaneous glucagon infusion
• Diazoxide-resistant congenital hyperinsulinism
• Hypoglycemic episodes
• Octreotide and subcutaneous glucagon infusion
• Severe persistent congenital hyperinsulinism

  Abstract

Background: Congenital hyperinsulinism (CHI) is characterized by severe hypoglycemia caused by dysregulated insulin secretion. The long-term outcome is dependent on prevention of hypoglycemic episodes to avoid the high risk of permanent brain damage. Severe cases are usually resistant to diazoxide or nifedipine. In addition, somatostatin analogues are ineffective in a subgroup of patients to achieve stable euglycemia. In these infants the only remaining long-term option has been subtotal pancreatectomy with high risk of diabetes mellitus. Intravenous infusions of glucagon are used as immediate treatment to stabilize euglycemia in affected newborns. The rationale of this treatment comes from the observation of an increased glycogen content of the liver when glycogenolysis is inhibited by insulin. Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of long-term subcutaneous glucagon infusion as a potential therapeutic option for blood glucose stabilization in infants with severe CHI without the need of additional intravenous glucose or immediate surgical intervention. Method: Retrospective review of 9 children with CHI who received continuous subcutaneous infusion of glucagon for weeks or months. Glucagon was added to octreotide to replace octreotide-induced suppression of endogenous glucagon secretion, thereby liberating glucose by stimulation of hepatic glycogenolysis. In 3 cases, a stabilized formulation of glucagon was used to prevent glucagon crystallization that frequently occurs in smaller volumes. Results: Introduction of glucagon allowed the reduction or discontinuation of central glucose infusion in all children studied. In 2 patients, glucagon was introduced due to recurrent hypoglycemia despite subtotal pancreatectomy. Six out of 9 children were discharged home on this treatment, which their parents were able to continue without further symptomatic hypoglycemia, convulsions or unconsciousness. In 3 children, subcutaneous glucagon was continuously administered for 1-4 years leading to stable euglycemia. However, 2 children with diffuse type still required subtotal pancreatectomy. As a possible side effect, 2 children developed erythema necrolyticum, which resolved after discontinuation of the glucagon infusion. This has been described before in glucagonoma. Conclusion: In this retrospective series, combination therapy of low-dose octreotide and subcutaneous glucagon infusion has been effective in preventing hypoglycemic episodes in severe CHI. We propose this may serve as a therapeutic option in place of high rates of glucose infusion through a central venous catheter and as an alternative to subtotal pancreatectomy in diffuse type of CHI.

Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Dr. Klaus L. Mohnike
Department of Pediatrics, Otto von Guericke University
Leipziger Strasse 44, DE-39120 Magdeburg (Germany)
Tel. +49 391 67 24031, Fax +49 391 67 290038
E-Mail susann.empting@med.ovgu.de

  Article Information

Received: August 15, 2007
Accepted: October 17, 2007
Published online: May 21, 2008
Number of Print Pages : 6
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 1, Number of References : 40