THE management of persistent hypoglycemia in infancy has been more successful since the advent of adrenal corticosteroids. However, the amount of hormone required often results in undesirable side-effects, most commonly, growth suppression and a cushingoid appearance. In addition, many children in spite of treatment continue to have low blood sugar levels intermittently, particularly at night. In 1964, Drash and Wolff1 reported that diazoxide (3 methyl-7 chloro-1, 2, 4 benzothiadiazine-1,1 dioxide) given orally produced a beneficial effect in a child with hypoglycemia.1 Since then, several groups have reported on the usefulness of this drug for hypoglycemia during infancy.2-6
Although diazoxide appears to exert its effect by suppressing insulin secretion, the exact mechanism by which this occurs has not been fully explained.7,8 Since many infants with idiopathic hypoglycemia may have absolute or relative hyperinsulinism, an extensive trial of this drug is warranted.9 We have used diazoxide