RESUMO
We analyzed 33 diabetic patients (12 males and 21 females) receiving sulfonylurea drug who were hospitalized for severe hypoglycemia during the period 1980-1991. Most patients (46%) had diabetes for 1-5 years and were aged between 50 and 59 years. There were associated hypertension (65%), cataract (55%), retinopathy (50%) and renal failure (45%). Sixty-one percent of them had received glibenclamide, 36 percent were on chlorpropamide and 3 percent on glipizide. Seven of them (21%) died. Among those survived, there were neither sequelae nor disability. Patients who were comatose on admission were likely to die. We suggest that sulfonylurea should be avoided or used carefully in elderly diabetic patients having renal impairment because of the potential risk of hypoglycemia which might be fatal.