Pancreatic glucagon levels in infants and children with hyperinsulinemia

Serum concentrations of pancreatic glucagon were measured in 40 patients with hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. In infants with severe disease the glucagon levels were markedly elevated; lower levels were observed in children with episodic hypoglycemia. During diazoxide treatment and after pancreatectomy, the glucagon levels decreased proportionally to suppression of the insulin secretion. Thus the secretion of glucagon seems to be retained in hyperinsulinism in proportion to the insulin hypersecretion, and an increased glucagon level indicates long duration and severity of hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia. (J PEDIATR 1995;126:948-51)