Efficacy of diazoxide in preventing hypoglycemia in a child affected by hypopituitary dwarfism.

An observation is reported of the efficacy of diazoxide (10 mg/kg/24 h) in the prevention of hypoglycemic crises in a child with growth hormone deficiency. The success of the therapy may be attributed to a reduction of glucose uptake induced by the drug, rather than to the inhibition of insulin secretion which is already depressed in subjects affected by growth hormone deficiency. The availability of a drug with no serious and irreversible side effects, capable of preventing hypoglycemic crises in patients with hormone deficiency, seems to be important whenever it is not possible to immediately start a replacement therapy.