JOHN K. MURDOCH, B.SC.PHM.; JAY S. KEYSTONE, M.D.
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To the editor: The recent case of pentamidine-induced hypoglycemia reported by Sharpe (1) prompted a chart review of patients treated with pentamidine at the Toronto General Hospital during the period of 1973 to 1983. Six of fifteen adult patients developed hypoglycemia (fasting plasma glucose less than 3.3 mmol/L) while being treated with pentamidine for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.
In comparison, the Parasitic Disease Drug Service, Centers for Disease Control (CDC), reported hypoglycemia in 25 (6.2%) of 404 patients treated with pentamidine (2). An earlier paper from the CDC reported hypoglycemia (blood glucose below 3.3 mmol/L) in 15 (9%) of 168 patients;
MURDOCH JK, KEYSTONE JS. Pentamidine and Hypoglycemia. Ann Intern Med. 1983;99:879. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-99-6-879_1
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1983;99(6):879.
DOI: 10.7326/0003-4819-99-6-879_1