Familial hyperinsulinism, also referred to as congenital hyperinsulinism, nesidioblastosis, or persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy (PPHI), is the most common cause of persistent hypoglycemia in infancy and is due to defective negative feedback regulation of insulin secretion by low glucose levels. Unless early and aggressive intervention is undertaken, brain damage from recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia may occur (Thornton et al., 1998).
Genetic Heterogeneity of Hyperinsulinemic Hypoglycemia
HHF2 (601820) is caused by mutation in the KCNJ11 gene (600937) on chromosome 11p15. HHF3 (602485) is caused by mutation in the glucokinase gene (GCK; 138079) on chromosome 7p13. HHF4 (609975) is caused by mutation in the HADH gene (601609) on chromosome 4q25. HHF5 (609968) is caused by mutation in the insulin receptor gene (INSR; 147670) on chromosome 19p13. HHF6 (606762) is caused by mutation in the GLUD1 gene (138130) on chromosome 10q23. HHF7 (610021) is caused by mutation in the SLC16A1 (600682) on chromosome 1p13. There is evidence of further genetic heterogeneity of HHF. [from
OMIM]