HYPEROSMOLAR NONKETOTIC DIABETIC SYNDROME FOLLOWING TREATMENT OF HUMAN-IMMUNODEFICIENCY-VIRUS INFECTION WITH DIDANOSINE

OBJECTIVE - To determine whether didanosine (DDI), one of the drugs co mmonly used to treat infection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) , contributes to the development of diabetes and hyperosmolar nonketot ic diabetic syndrome (HNKDS). CASE SUMMARY - One female patient was tr eated with DDI for infection with HIV during pregnancy. Soon after sta rting DDI treatment, she developed diabetes, which progressed to HNKDS . CONCLUSIONS - Although not reported in the literature, hyperglycemia following treatment with DDI has been noted in 82 patients and is usu ally associated with pancreatitis. DDI should be recognized as one of the drugs known to potentially cause diabetes and HNKDS. With the incr easing use of DDI and other drugs that cause hyperglycemia, such as pe ntamidine and dapsone, blood glucose should be monitored frequently in the HIV-infected patients.