[Permanent neonatal diabetes with known genetic background: oral drugs in treatment of childhood diabetes].

Diabetes, which is diagnosed before 6 months of age, is patogenetically different than type 1 diabetes. This kind of diabetes also known as a neonatal diabetes is genetically determined with monogenic mode of inheritance. Most of these patients are carriers of heterozygous mutation in the KCNJ11 or ABCC8 gene. These mutations may activate the Kir6.2/SUR1 potassium channel in the beta cells and disturb insulin secretion, which in consequence leads to diabetes. This patological phenomenon is reversible if sulfonylureas are used as a first line therapy. In the current paper a systematic review of clinical aspects of sulfonylurea treatment in neonatal diabetes has been performed. This gives the further evidence that knowlegde of the patogenesis of neonatal diabetes may be easily transferred to bedside and clinical practice.