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Published on: November 20, 2015
Isoniazid and hypoglycaemia in a premature infant
1Neonatal Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Istanbul Medical Faculty, Istanbul University, Turkey. fovali@yahoo.com
Insights
Severe hypoglycemia in a premature infant was linked to the mother's isoniazid treatment for tuberculosis. Stopping the medication led to the infant's recovery, suggesting a potential drug-induced effect requiring further study.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal Medicine
- Pharmacology
- Infectious Disease
Background:
- A premature infant presented with severe hypoglycemia, necessitating aggressive glucose infusion.
- The infant's mother had active tuberculosis and was receiving prophylactic isoniazid therapy during pregnancy.
Observation:
- The infant exhibited persistent and severe hypoglycemia unresponsive to standard treatments.
- A notable correlation was observed between the mother's isoniazid use and the infant's hypoglycemic episodes.
Findings:
- Discontinuation of maternal isoniazid therapy resulted in a rapid and complete resolution of the infant's hypoglycemia.
- This clinical observation strongly suggests a potential causal link between maternal isoniazid and neonatal hypoglycemia.
Implications:
- This case highlights a potential adverse drug effect of isoniazid in neonates via maternal transfer.
- Further pharmacological investigations are warranted to elucidate the mechanism and confirm the cause-and-effect relationship.
- Clinicians should consider maternal isoniazid exposure in the differential diagnosis of severe neonatal hypoglycemia.
Abstract:
Severe hypoglycaemia requiring more than 20 mg/kg per minute glucose infusion was seen in a premature infant. The infant was born to a woman with active tuberculosis, and she was on prophylactic isoniazid. Discontinuation of isoniazid resulted in prompt recovery of hypoglycaemia. Further pharmacological studies may be needed to establish a cause and effect relationship.
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