Early glibenclamide treatment in a clinical newborn with KCNJ11 gene mutation.

Activating mutations in the KCNJ11 gene, which code for the ATP-sensitive K+ channel subunit Kir6.2, are the most common cause of permanent neonatal diabetes. Recently, a switch from insulin treatment to oral sulfonylurea has been proposed if genetic testing reveals sulfonylurea-sensitive KCNJ11 mutations (1). Until now, hurdles for early treatment were 1 ) the time until the mutation analysis is finished and 2 ) the lack of knowledge about adverse effects of glibenclamide in …