Meglitinide Analogues in Adolescent Patients With HNF1A-MODY (MODY 3)

For pediatric patients with hepatocyte nuclear factor-1A (HNF1A)–maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY 3), treatment with sulfonylureas is recommended. In adults with HNF1A-MODY, meglitinide analogues achieve lower postprandial glucose levels and pose a lower risk of delayed hypoglycemia compared with sulfonylureas. This therapy has not yet been reviewed in pediatric patients. We report on meglitinide analogue treatment in 3 adolescents with HNF1A-MODY. Case 1 (14-year-old girl) was diagnosed asymptomatically but had an hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level of 7.4%; her father had been recently diagnosed with HNF1A-MODY. With repaglinide, her HbA1c level decreased to 5.5%, with no hypoglycemic episodes. Case 2 (14-year-old boy) was diagnosed incidentally with glucosuria (HbA1c level: 7.0%) and was treated with insulin. After the HNF1A-MODY diagnosis, he was switched to glibenclamide. Due to several hypoglycemic episodes, treatment was changed to nateglinide and his HbA1c level decreased to 6.2% with no further hypoglycemic episodes. Case 3 (11-year-old girl) presented with polyuria and polydipsia (HbA1c level: 10.1%) and was initially treated with insulin. After the HNF1A-MODY diagnosis, treatment was changed to repaglinide. She was obese (BMI: 28.8 kg/m2; z-score: +2.2), and glucose control with repaglinide alone was insufficient. Therefore, neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin (0.27 U/kg per day) was added. With this combination therapy, her HbA1c level decreased to 8.2%. The use of meglitinides in these 3 adolescent patients was well tolerated and effective. Furthermore, hypoglycemic episodes were rare compared with treatment with insulin or sulfonylureas. We therefore suggest considering meglitinides as the primary oral treatment option for adolescents suffering from HNF1A-MODY.