Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy: A case report

Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PHHI), though rare, is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia in early infancy. This disease is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous entity. Neonatal hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is often resistant to medical therapy and requires near-total pancreatectomy. We report on a baby girl who had hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia from birth and finally improved after receiving a near-total pancreatectomy at the age of 71 days. Histology of the resected specimen showed characteristic diffuse hyperinsulinism. The likely cause in this type of PHHI was loss of K_ATPchannel (ATP sensitive potassium channel)function. At the age of one and half years old, there were no obvious sequelae, and her development was within normal limits.