Occurrence of Ileus after Voglibose Treatment in an Elderly Diabetic Patient with Gait Disturbance Caused by Cerebral Hemorrhage

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor can suppress postprandial hyperglycemia by delaying the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestine, and may be useful in obese patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and preserved insulin secretion. We encountered an obese elderly patient with NIDDM in whom gait disturbance had developed after cerebral hemorrhage and who suffered from ileus after treatment with voglibose. The patient had received voglibose which is reported to cause fewer abdominal symptoms than acarbose, for 15 days. The patient, a 63-year-old woman, was given a diagnosis of NIDDM in February 1995, and was treated with a sulfonylurea agent. However, her glycemic control remained poor and she was admitted to our hospital in April 1995. Her body mass index was 30.5kg/m2 and laboratory investigation revealed a fasting plasma glucose level of 211mg/dl, a postprandial (2h) plasma glucose level of 288mg/dl, HbA1c of 9.9%, a fasting insulin level of 9μU/ml, urinary C-peptide excretion of 95.7μg/ day, and an coefficient of variation of R-R value of 2.1%. Fifteen days after glibenclamide was replaced by to voglibose, abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and ausculatory sounds of gurgling developed, and niveau were noted on an abdominal roentgenogram which indicated that simple ileus had developed. Voglibose was discontinued and the patient was treated with an enema and hot air. She recovered from simple ileus on the next day. This patient had had two abdominal surgeries and a cerebral hemorrhage, and her daily physical activities were limited, which might have contributed to ileus. In elderly patients with NIDDM, a history of abdominal surgery and the amount of daily exercise must be considered when deciding whether or not to give alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.