Abstract
Hypoglycemic attacks and delayed recovery of blood glucose (G) during insulin tolerance test (ITT) are seen in both, in “ketotic hypoglycemia” (KH) and in pit. dwarfism. Recently the occurence of impaired cortisol regulation in “KH” has been reported. Thus a comparism of G regulation in both diseases seemed to be indicated. A ketogenic diet was given to 5 children suffering from pit. dwarfism. A critical drop of G within 24 hours was seen in 4 of the 5 dwarfs, while in a contrast group of 4 healthy children none exhibited a similar hypoglycemia under the same regime. When compared with a group of 4 children with proved “KH” the pit. dwarfs showed not only the same hypoglycemic reaction on ketogenic diet, but also the same delayed G recovery during ITT. The rise of plasma cortisol and of urinary epinephrine excretion during the same test was diminished in both groups. GH secretion during ITT was lowered in 2 of 4 children with “KH” and absent in the pit. dwarfs. The findings may indicate a similar disturbance of blood glucose regulation in pit.dwarfism and in “KH”, probably located in the hypothalamus.
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Tietze, H. “KETOTIC HYPOGLYCEMIA” IN PITUITARY DWARFS. Pediatr Res 9, 675 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00064