Severe hypoglycaemia caused by physical strain and pindolol therapy. A case report.

A 35-year-old man who was on treatment for mild arterial hypertension with the beta-blocking agent pindolol and who was accustomed to regular physical exercise, developed severe hypoglycaemia and bradycardia during a routine skiing tour. He recovered from the attack, and subsequent studies revealed no abnormalities of glucose metabolism. Apparently the hypoglycaemic attack was due to the combined effects of prolonged physical exercise of moderate degree and beta-blockade on glucose metabolism.