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KETOTIC HYPOGLYCÆMIA DUE TO HYPOALANINÆMIA
Author(s) -
Donnelly Peter E.,
Turtle John R.
Publication year - 1974
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1974.tb50880.x
Subject(s) - medicine
A six‐year‐old child is described with the syndrome of ketotic hypoglycæmia. Episodes of ketosis were followed by hypoglycemia and fits, associated with marked reduction in the plasma level of the amino acid alanine. The alanine cycle is an important gluconeogenic mechanism whereby normoglycæmia is maintained during an overnight fast. Previous concepts that normoglycæmia depends entirely on glycogenolysis are incorrect, as gluconeogenesis is initiated within the first six hours after food deprivation. Any limitation of gluconeogenesis, e.g., in hypoalaninæmia, may be associated with severe hypoglycæmia.