Effect of ephedrine in ketotic hypoglycaemia.

The effect of oral ephedrine administration on a child with ketotic hypoglycaemia who had not responded to dietary measures alone was studied. After ephedrine administration, the hypoglycaemia developing after ketogenic stress was less profound and was substantially delayed. The impaired glycaemic response to glucagon during hypoglycaemia, characteristic of ketotic hypoglycaemia, was not altered. These observations are compatible with the proposition that ketotic hypoglycaemia is associated with impaired gluconeogenesis and they suggest that ephedrine may be a useful adjunct to therapy in this condition.