Idiopathic ketotic hypoglycemia in children : An update

Idiopathic ketotic hypoglycemia (IKH ) is defined as bouts of hypoglycemia with increased blood or urine ketones that occur in certain children after prolonged fasting or during illness .IKH is divided into physiological IKH which most frequently observed in normal children with inter current acute illness and pathological IKH which are seen in children who lack counter-regulatory hormones or in children with some metabolic disease or Silver-Russell syndrome .The typical patient is a young child between the ages of 10 months and 6 years. Episodes nearly always occur in the morning after an overnight. Symptoms include those of neuroglycopenia, ketosis, or both. IKH may be diagnosed after the ruling out various metabolic and hormonal condition associated with KH . Providing sufficient amounts of carbohydrates and protein, avoidance of prolonged fasting, increased frequency of feedings are main lines of treatment of IKH . It is crucial to understand the pathogenesis of IKH and to distinguish physiological IKH from pathological IKH. In this mini-review, we present a brief review of IKH as regard definition, types, clinical presentation, , diagnosis and therapeutic approach of IKH in children.

A case series of severe symptomatic peripartum hyponatraemia

This single centre case series describes the presentation and management of six cases of peripartum hyponatraemia in women who were otherwise deemed low-risk at delivery. It highlights presenting symptoms such as fatigue, confusion and seizures as well as the effects on the neonate. It also focuses on areas of interest such as fluid intake, hormonal effects of ADH and oxytocin and the association with birthing pools for future research.

Clinical algorithms for the management of intrapartum maternal urine abnormalities

AIM

To develop evidence-based clinical algorithms for management of common intrapartum urinary abnormalities.

POPULATION

Women with singleton, term pregnancies in active labour and immediate postnatal period, at low risk of complications.

SETTING

Healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries.

SEARCH STRATEGY

A systematic search and review were conducted on the current guidelines from WHO, NICE, ACOG and RCOG. Additional search was done on PubMed and The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up to May 2020.

CASE SCENARIOS

Four common intrapartum urinary abnormalities were selected: proteinuria, ketonuria, glycosuria and oliguria. Using reagent strip testing, glycosuria was defined as ≥2+ on one occasion or of ≥1+ on two or more occasions. Proteinuria was defined as ≥2+ and presence of ketone indicated ketonuria. Oliguria was defined as hourly urine output ≤30 ml. Thorough initial assessment using history, physical examination and basic investigations helped differentiate most of the underlying causes, which include diabetes mellitus, dehydration, sepsis, pre-eclampsia, shock, anaemia, obstructed labour, underlying cardiac or renal problems. A clinical algorithm was developed for each urinary abnormality to facilitate intrapartum management and referral of complicated cases for specialised care.

CONCLUSIONS

Four simple, user-friendly and evidence-based clinical algorithms were developed to enhance intrapartum care of commonly encountered maternal urine abnormalities. These algorithms may be used to support healthcare professionals in clinical decision-making when handling normal and potentially complicated labour, especially in low resource countries.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Evidence-based clinical algorithms developed to guide intrapartum management of commonly encountered urinary abnormalities.

Pseudo-pheochromocytoma due to obstructive sleep apnea: a case report

SUMMARY

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a condition of intermittent nocturnal upper airway obstruction. OSA increases sympathetic drive which may result in clinical and biochemical features suggestive of pheochromocytoma. We present the case of a 65-year-old male with a 2.9-cm left adrenal incidentaloma on CT, hypertension, symptoms of headache, anxiety and diaphoresis, and persistently elevated 24-h urine norepinephrine (initially 818 nmol/day (89-470)) and normetanephrine (initially 11.2 µmol/day (0.6-2.7)). He was started on prazosin and underwent left adrenalectomy. Pathology revealed an adrenal corticoadenoma with no evidence of pheochromocytoma. Over the next 2 years, urine norepinephrine and normetanephrine remained significantly elevated with no MIBG avid disease. Years later, he was diagnosed with severe OSA and treated with continuous positive airway pressure. Urine testing done once OSA was well controlled revealed complete normalization of urine norepinephrine and normetanephrine with substantial symptom improvement. It was concluded that the patient never had a pheochromocytoma but rather an adrenal adenoma with biochemistry and symptoms suggestive of pheochromocytoma due to untreated severe OSA. Pseudo-pheochromocytoma is a rare presentation of OSA and should be considered on the differential of elevated urine catecholamines and metanephrines in the right clinical setting.

LEARNING POINTS

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common condition among adults. OSA may rarely present as pseudo-pheochromocytoma with symptoms of pallor, palpitations, perspiration, headache, or anxiety. OSA should be considered on the differential of elevated urine catecholamines and metanephrines, especially in patients with negative metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) scan results.

The relationship between inflammation markers and ketonuria in hyperemesis gravidarum

OBJECTIVE

Hyperemesis gravidarum is an illness that starts in early pregnancy and manifests itself with oral intake problems, electrolyte imbalance, ketonuria, and weight loss. Inflammation is closely associated with the hyperemesis gravidarum, and inflammatory indicators have been studied to understand its pathophysiology. This study investigates the relationship of ketonuria levels with inflammatory markers platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for hyperemesis gravidarum patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

This retrospective case control study was conducted at Kütahya Medical Sciences University Tertiary Research and Training Hospital between December 2019 and December 2020. A total of 173 pregnancies, 82 of them with hyperemesis gravidarum and 91 of them low-risk pregnancies were included in the study. The patients' demographic profiles and laboratory parameters were recorded. The patients were divided into hyperemesis gravidarum and control groups and the groups were compared for the levels of inflammation markers. For the hyperemesis gravidarum group, the relationship between ketonuria levels and the inflammation severity was investigated.

RESULTS

MLR, NLR, PLR levels were higher in the hyperemesis gravidarum group than the control group in a statistically significant way (p < 0.001 for all of the comparisons). The hyperemesis gravidarum group was subdivided into four groups based on their ketonuria levels, and their MLR, NLR, PLR levels were compared. The differences between the groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001) and the indicators increased with the ketonuria levels. Finally, ketonuria levels had a positive and significant correlation with MLR (rho =0.67, p < 0.001), PLR (rho =0.67, p < 0.001), and NLR (rho =0.8, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Hyperemesis gravidarum patients have higher levels of hematologic inflammation indicators than healthy pregnant patients. For these patients, the levels of the indicators increase with ketonuria levels.

Two cases of carbonic anhydrase VA deficiency-An ultrarare metabolic decompensation syndrome presenting with hyperammonemia, lactic acidosis, ketonuria, and good clinical outcome

The combination of neonatal hyperammonemia, lactic acidosis, ketonuria, and hypoglycemia is pathognomonic for carbonic anhydrase VA (CA-VA) deficiency. We present two cases of this rare inborn error of metabolism. Both newborns with South Asian ancestry presented with a metabolic decompensation characterized by hyperammonemia, lactic acidosis and ketonuria; one also had hypoglycemia. Standard metabolic investigations (plasma amino acids, acylcarnitine profile, and urine organic acids) were not indicative of a specific organic aciduria or fatty acid oxidation defect but had some overlapping features with a urea cycle disorder (elevated glutamine, orotic acid, and low arginine). Hyperammonemia was treated initially with nitrogen scavenger therapy and carglumic acid. One patient required hemodialysis. Both have had a favorable long-term prognosis after their initial metabolic decompensation. Genetic testing confirmed the diagnosis of carbonic anhydrase VA (CA-VA) deficiency due to biallelic pathogenic variants in CA5A. These cases are in line with 15 cases previously described in the literature, making the phenotypic presentation pathognomonic for this ultrarare (potentially underdiagnosed) inborn error of metabolism with a good prognosis.

Subclinical inflammation markers in hyperemesis gravidarum and ketonuria: A case-control study

INTRODUCTION

Subclinical inflammation markers play a significant role in hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG). Simple hematological markers such as mean platelet volume (MPV), platelet distribution width (PDW), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), red cell distribution width (RDW), plateletcrit (PCT), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) have been shown to reflect inflammatory burden and disease activity in several disorders. Ketonuria is a parameter used in the diagnosis of severe HEG, but its correlation with disease severity remains controversial. The relationship of subclinical inflammation markers with degree of ketonuria has not been examined previously. In this study, we aimed to determine the diagnostic value of these subclinical inflammation markers and the relationship between these markers and grade of ketonuria in patients with HEG.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 94 pregnant women with a diagnosis of HEG and 100 gestational age-matched healthy pregnant women were enrolled in this retrospective study. MPV, PDW, NLR, PLR, PCT, and ketonuria were calculated and analyzed from complete blood cell counts and total urine analyses.

RESULTS

Lymphocyte count was significantly higher in the control group (P < 0,001); NLR and PLR values were significantly higher in the HEG group (P < 0,001). Among inflammation markers, RDW increased significantly (P = 0,008) with an increase in ketonuria in patients with HEG. A statistically significant correlation was found between white blood cell (WBC) and NLR, PLR, PCT. A moderate uphill relationship was observed between NLR and WBC and a weak uphill linear relationship was observed between WBC and PLR and between WBC and PCT.

CONCLUSIONS

PLR and NLR can be considered effective markers to aid in the diagnosis of HEG. No marker was found to correlate with ketonuria grade except RDW, although the relationship of the severity of ketonuria with severity of disease is controversial. RDW increases as the degree of ketonuria increases.

Serum vitamin D concentrations at dry-off and close-up predict increased postpartum urine ketone concentrations in dairy cattle

Vitamin D is commonly supplemented to dairy cows as vitamin D₃ to support calcium homeostasis and in times of low sunlight exposure. Vitamin D has beneficial immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations fluctuated during lactation, with the lowest concentrations measured in healthy cows within 7 d of calving. However, it is unknown if serum 25(OH)D concentrations measured during the previous lactation are associated with transition diseases or health risk factors in dairy cattle. We collected serum samples from 279 dairy cattle from 5 commercial dairy herds in Michigan at dry-off, close-up, and 2-10 d in milk (DIM). Vitamin D concentrations were determined by measuring serum 25(OH)D by radioimmunoassay. Total serum calcium was measured by colorimetric methods. Body condition scores (BCS) were assigned at the time of blood collection. Clinical disease incidence was monitored until 30 d postparturition. Separate bivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine if serum 25(OH)D at dry-off, close-up, and 2-10 DIM was associated with various clinical diseases including mastitis, lameness, and uterine disorders (classified as metritis, retained placenta, or both) and increased urine ketone concentrations at P < 0.05. Among all significant bivariable analyses, multivariable logistic regression analyses were built to adjust for potential confounding variables including parity, BCS, season, and calcium. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to determine optimal concentrations of serum 25(OH)D. We found that higher serum 25(OH)D concentrations at dry-off and close-up predicted increased urine ketone concentrations in early lactation, even after adjustment for confounders. Alternatively, we found that lower serum 25(OH)D at 2-10 DIM was associated with uterine diseases. Optimal concentrations for serum 25(OH)D at dry-off and close-up for lower risk of increased urine ketone concentrations were below 103.4 and 91.1 ng/mL, respectively. The optimal concentration for serum 25(OH)D at 2-10 DIM for uterine diseases was above 71.4 ng/mL. These results indicate that serum 25(OH)D at dry-off and close-up may be a novel predictive biomarker for increased urine ketone concentrations during early lactation. Increased urine ketone concentrations are not necessarily harmful or diagnostic for ketosis but do indicate development of negative energy balance, metabolic stress, and increased risk of early lactation diseases. Predicting that dairy cattle are at increased risk of disease facilitates implementation of intervention strategies that may lower disease incidence. Future studies should confirm these findings and determine the utility of serum 25(OH)D concentrations as a predictive biomarker for clinical and subclinical ketosis.

Ketonuria Is Associated with Changes to the Abundance of Roseburia in the Gut Microbiota of Overweight and Obese Women at 16 Weeks Gestation: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

The gut microbiome in pregnancy has been associated with various maternal metabolic and hormonal markers involved in glucose metabolism. Maternal ketones are of particular interest due to the rise in popularity of low-carbohydrate diets. We assessed for differences in the composition of the gut microbiota in pregnant women with and without ketonuria at 16 weeks gestation. Fecal samples were obtained from 11 women with fasting ketonuria and 11 matched controls. The samples were analyzed to assess for differences in gut microbiota composition by 16S rRNA sequencing. Supervised hierarchical clustering analysis showed significantly different beta-diversity between women with and without ketonuria, but no difference in the alpha-diversity. Group comparisons and network analysis showed that ketonuria was associated with an increased abundance of the butyrate-producing genus Roseburia. The bacteria that contributed the most to the differences in the composition of the gut microbiota included Roseburia, Methanobrevibacter, Uncl. RF39, and Dialister in women with ketonuria and Eggerthella, Phascolarctobacterium, Butyricimonas, and Uncl. Coriobacteriaceae in women without ketonuria. This study found that the genus Roseburia is more abundant in the gut microbiota of pregnant women with ketonuria. Roseburia is a butyrate producing bacterium and may increase serum ketone levels.

[Influence of meat semiprepared foods produced with an addition of water having a reduced deuterium content on the indicators of the laboratory animals with the model of alloxan diabetes]

The paper presents the results of the study on the influence of water with a reduced deuterium content and the meat semi-prepared foods produced with its addition on the indicators of the laboratory animals with the model of alloxan diabetes. The effect of low concentrations of deuterium on the body weight dynamics was shown as well as the manifestation of glucosuria and ketonuria, and clinico-biological indicators of the animal's blood. The experiment was carried out during 42 days on male rats of Wistar stock, which were divided into 4 groups - 2 experimental, control (n=10) and intact (n=6), and consisted of three stages: adaptational, the stage of modeling of alloxan diabetes (a single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate - 12 mg/100 g body weight) and dietic therapeutic. The animals of the experimental groups consumed water with a reduced deuterium content and standard vivarium diet or the meat minced semi-prepared products produced with its addition and cooked to culinary readiness. The control group consumed tap water and standard vivarium diet. In animals of the 1st group, which consumed the meat product, glucosuria persisted up to the 28th day (the 11th day after administration of alloxan), ketonuria up to the 34th day (the 17th day after modeling). In rats of the 2nd group, which consumed water with the decreased deuterium content, glucose in urea was not detected already on the 7th day after administration of alloxan, ketones on the 17th day after modeling of the disease, respectively. In animals of the control group, glucosuria and ketonuria persisted up to the end of the experiment. As a result of the investigations, the positive effect of water with a reduced deuterium content and the meat food produced with its use was established. It was manifested in a decrease of glucose level in the urea of the animals from the experimental groups compared to the control group on the 5th day of disease modeling and normalization on the 17th day of modeling. This experimentally demonstrated the possibility to use deuterium-depleted water in a meat product composition intended for nutrition of people with an impairment of carbohydrate metabolism for correction of metabolic processes.

Retrospective comparison of early- versus late-insulin therapy regarding effect on time to resolution of diabetic ketosis and ketoacidosis in dogs and cats: 60 cases (2003-2013)

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether early insulin administration (≤6 h after admission) results in more rapid resolution of diabetic ketosis (DK) and ketoacidosis (DKA), shorter duration of hospitalization, and higher incidence of complications, and whether more severe ketonuria is associated with longer time to resolution of DK/DKA.

DESIGN

Retrospective study (January 1, 2003-March 1, 2013).

SETTING

University teaching hospital.

ANIMALS

Sixty dogs and cats with DK or DKA receiving short-acting insulin therapy.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Medical records were reviewed and data recorded including signalment; previous history of diabetes; intake temperature, blood pressure, blood glucose, pH, base excess, and degree of ketonuria; time to short-acting insulin therapy and resolution of DK/DKA; length of hospitalization; and complications. Insulin was initiated ≤6 hours in the early group and >6 hours in the late group after hospital admission. Early group patients had more rapid resolution of DK/DKA after starting short-acting insulin therapy (36.4 ± 22.6 vs. 55.4 ± 26.6 h, P = 0.014). There was no difference in duration of hospitalization or complications. More severe ketonuria resulted in longer time to resolution of DK/DKA after initiation of short-acting insulin (severe: 50.9 ± 24.2; moderate: 29.6 ± 19; mild: 23.4 ± 21.9 h, P = 0.005, all individual pairwise comparisons P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Early insulin administration is associated with more rapid resolution of DK/DKA without an associated increase in complication rates. DK/DKA took longer to resolve with more severe ketonuria. Prospective studies are warranted to identify specific time targets for insulin administration in DK/DKA patients.

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors and euglycemic ketoacidosis: Wisdom of hindsight

Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) are newly approved class of oral anti-diabetic drugs, in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, which reduces blood glucose through glucouresis via the kidney, independent, and irrespective of available pancreatic beta-cells. Studies conducted across their clinical development program found, a modest reduction in glycated hemoglobin ranging from -0.5 to -0.8%, without any significant hypoglycemia. Moreover, head-to-head studies versus active comparators yielded comparable efficacy. Interestingly, weight and blood pressure reduction were additionally observed, which was not only consistent but significantly superior to active comparators, including metformin, sulfonylureas, and dipeptydylpeptide-4 inhibitors. Indeed, these additional properties makes this class a promising oral anti-diabetic drug. Surprisingly, a potentially fatal unwanted side effect of diabetic ketoacidosis has been noted with its widespread use, albeit rarely. Nevertheless, this has created a passé among the clinicians. This review is an attempt to pool those ketosis data emerging with SGLT-2i, and put a perspective on its implicated mechanism.

Sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibition and ketogenesis

Sodium glucose transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are a recently developed class of drug that have been approved for use in type 2 diabetes. Their unique extra-pancreatic glucuretic mode of action has encouraged their usage in type 1 diabetes as well. At the same time, reports of pseudo ketoacidosis and ketoacidosis related to their use have been published. No clear mechanism for this phenomenon has been demonstrated so far. This communication delves into the biochemical effects of SGLT2 inhibition, discusses the utility of these drugs and proposes steps to maximize safe usage of the molecules.

[Diabetic ketoacidosis in adults in Sendwe Hospital Lubumbashi: about 51 cases]

L'acidocétose diabétique (ACD) est une décompensation métabolique sévère du diabète sucré. L'objectif de notre étude est de Décrire les aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et évolutifs de l'acidocétose diabétique chez l'adulte à Lubumbashi (République Démocratique du Congo). Il s'agit d'une étude prospective descriptive réalisée du 1er janvier 2011 au 31 décembre 2012 incluant tous les patients âgés de 18 ans ou plus admis pour acidocétose diabétique dans le service de Médecine Interne de l'hôpital Jason Sendwe de Lubumbashi (République Démocratique du Congo). L’échantillon était exhaustif fait de 51 patients chez qui nous les paramètres épidémiologiques, cliniques et évolutifs étaient étudiés. La prévalence de l'acidocétose diabétique au cours de l’étude a été de 5% et elle a constitué la plus fréquente des complications métaboliques aigues du diabète avec 37,2% des cas. L’âge moyen des patients était de 44,8 ans allant de 20 à 79 ans et les hommes ont été plus touchés (58,8%) avec un sexe ratio de 1,42. L'examen clinique a révélé la respiration de Kussmaul dans 80,4%, des signes de déshydratation dans 76,5% et une odeur cétonique de l'haleine dans 56,9% et 58,8% de nos patients étaient admis dans un tableau de coma. L'infection était en tête des causes de la décompensation acidocétosique (54,9%) suivi de la mauvaise observance thérapeutique (29,4%). La durée moyenne du séjour hospitalier dans notre série a été de 9,3 jours et l'affection a été grevée d'un taux de mortalité de 27,5%. Cette complication métabolique aigue du diabète reste donc relativement fréquente et redoutable dans notre milieu avec une prévalence de 5% et un taux de mortalité de 27,5%. Une conscientisation des patients diabétiques et une amélioration de la prise en charge s'avèrent donc urgente.