Hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome in two Peruvian children with refractory epilepsy

Miguel Angel De Los Santos-La Torre, Carlos Manuel Del Águila-Villar, Luis Rómulo Lu-De Lama, Oswaldo Nuñez-Almache, Eliana Manuela Chávez-Tejada, Oscar Antonio Espinoza-Robles, Paola Marianella Pinto-Ibárcena, Martha Rosario Calagua-Quispe, Pamela Miluska Azabache-Tafur, Rosa María Tucto-Manchego

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: Congenital hyperinsulinism (HI) is a heterogeneous clinical disorder with great variability in its clinical phenotype, and to date, pathogenic variants in 23 genes have been recognized. Hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome (HI/HA) is the second most frequent cause of this disease that shows an autosomal dominant pattern and is caused by an activating mutation of the GLUD1 gene, which responds favorably to the use of diazoxide. HI/HA syndrome presents with fasting hypoglycemia; postprandial hypoglycemia, especially in those with a high protein content (leucine); and persistent mild hyperammonemia. Neurological abnormalities, in the form of epilepsy or neurodevelopmental delay, are observed in a high percentage of patients; therefore, timely diagnosis is crucial for proper management. Case presentation: We report the clinical presentation of two Peruvian children that presented with epilepsy whose genetic analysis revealed a missense mutation in the GLUD1 gene, one within exon 11, at 22% mosaicism; and another within exon 7, as well as their response to diazoxide therapy. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first two cases of HI/HA syndrome reported in Peru. Conclusions: HI/HA syndrome went unnoticed, because hypoglycemia was missed and were considered partially controlled epilepsies. A failure to recognize hypoglycemic seizures will delay diagnosis and adequate treatment, so a proper investigation could avoid irreversible neurological damage.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)207-211
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
Volume36
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Feb 2023

Keywords

  • congenital hyperinsulinism
  • epilepsy
  • hyperammonemia
  • hypoglycemia

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome in two Peruvian children with refractory epilepsy'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this