Macroglossia, transient neonatal diabetes mellitus and intrauterine growth failure: a new distinct entity?

A newborn infant, small for her gestational age with macroglossia and transient insulinopenic diabetes mellitus is described. Two similar cases have been found in the literature. Flat glucose tolerance test results were found in the mother, the mechanism of which was not disclosed; there was no evidence of hyperinsulinism or malabsorption syndrome and the response of plasma growth hormone, and cortisol, and of urinary epinephrine to insulin-induced hypoglycemia was adequate. It is suggested that the triad of intrauterine growth retardation, macroglossia, and transient neonatal diabetes mellitus constitutes a distinct clinical entity. The link to the maternal abnormalities of carbohydrated homeostasis remains speculative.