[Etiologic diagnosis of hypoglycemia in children]

When the etiology of an hypoglycemia is not easily recognizable, the diagnosis can be guided by 2 signs: hepatomegaly and ketosis. If an hepatomegaly is present, an abnormality of glycogen metabolism or neoglucogenesis or an hereditary fructose intolerance may be suspected. A hypoketotic hypoglycemia suggests a hyperinsulinism or an impaired fatty acid oxydation. If the liver is normal and ketosis is normal or increased, an abnormality of branched amino acid metabolism or a ketotic hypoglycemia may be evoked.