Hypoglycaemia on and after admission in Kenyan children

摘要

We investigated the pathophysiology of hypoglycae- mia in severemalaria in African children, especially the potential importance ofglycerol as a substrate for gluconeogenesis, and whether substratelimita- tion contributes to hypoglycaemia in severe desease. Of 171children with moderate or severe malaria, 16/100 were hypoglycaemicon admission, while at least 9/100 of children with severe malaria,with quinine an a concurrent 4/100 dextrose infusion had a definiteepisode of hypoglycaemia after admis- sion. Blood levels ofgluconeogenic precursors are as high (alanine and lactate) or higher(glycerol) in those with either hypoglycaemia on or after admis- sionas they are in children never having an episode of hypoglycaemia.