Magnetic resonance imaging studies in two cases of neonatal hypoglycae
mia showed cortical and white matter cerebral damage that was most obv
ious in the occipital lobes. Both cases showed oedema in the parieto-o
ccipital cortex and underlying white matter in the acute phase, with p
rofound atrophy of these regions in the chronic phase. These findings
support those of pathological studies which suggest that hypoglycaemia
induces cerebral damage by a mechanism separate from the effects of c
erebral hypoxia-ischaemia caused by secondary seizures.