Abby S Hollander1, Robert C Olney, Piers R Blackett, Bess A Marshall. 1. Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism, Washington University School of Medicine and St Louis, Children's Hospital, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. hollander@kids.wustl.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This report describes a new fatal syndrome observed in adolescent males at the initial presentation of diabetes mellitus. The features include hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma complicated by a malignant hyperthermia-like picture with fever, rhabdomyolysis, and severe cardiovascular instability. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care units of 3 tertiary care facilities in the United States. PATIENTS: Six adolescent males, 5/6 obese with acanthosis nigricans, 4/6 black. RESULTS: Four of 6 patients died. Four of 6 patients did not have significant ketosis. Six of 6 patients had increased temperature after the administration of insulin. CONCLUSIONS: The underlying etiology of this syndrome remains unclear. Possibilities include an underlying metabolic disorder such as a fatty acid oxidation defect, an unrecognized infection, exposure to an unknown toxin, or a genetic predisposition to malignant hyperthermia. Evaluation for all these possibilities and empiric treatment with dantrolene should be considered for this type of patient until this syndrome is better characterized.
OBJECTIVE: This report describes a new fatal syndrome observed in adolescent males at the initial presentation of diabetes mellitus. The features include hyperglycemic hyperosmolar coma complicated by a malignant hyperthermia-like picture with fever, rhabdomyolysis, and severe cardiovascular instability. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Pediatric intensive care units of 3 tertiary care facilities in the United States. PATIENTS: Six adolescent males, 5/6 obese with acanthosis nigricans, 4/6 black. RESULTS: Four of 6 patients died. Four of 6 patients did not have significant ketosis. Six of 6 patients had increased temperature after the administration of insulin. CONCLUSIONS: The underlying etiology of this syndrome remains unclear. Possibilities include an underlying metabolic disorder such as a fatty acid oxidation defect, an unrecognized infection, exposure to an unknown toxin, or a genetic predisposition to malignant hyperthermia. Evaluation for all these possibilities and empiric treatment with dantrolene should be considered for this type of patient until this syndrome is better characterized.
Authors: Sharon J Hirshey Dirksen; Marilyn Green Larach; Henry Rosenberg; Barbara W Brandom; Jerome Parness; Robert Scott Lang; Meera Gangadharan; Tyler Pezalski Journal: Anesth Analg Date: 2011-06-27 Impact factor: 5.108