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Horm Metab Res 1981; 13(10): 545-547
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-1019330
© Georg Thieme Verlag, Stuttgart · New York

Exaggerated Glucagon Secretion in Diabetic and Non-Diabetic Subjects with Surgical Porto-Caval Anastomosis

F. Fallucca1 , V. Ziparo2 , L. Giangrande1 , G. Menzinger1 , S. Stipa2
  • 1Cattedra di Medicina Costituzionale ed Endocrinologia, Università degli studi di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Italy
  • 2IV Patologia Chirurgica, Università degli studi di Roma, Policlinico Umberto I, Italy
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Publication History

1980

1981

Publication Date:
14 March 2008 (online)

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Summary

Pancreatic glucagon (IRG) levels in the postabsorptive (fasting) state and in response to arginine test (ATT), have been investigated in 17 subjects with porto-caval anastomosis (PCA). Out of these, seven subjects were insulin-treated diabetics, 5 were untreated diabetics, and 5 had no evidence of clinical diabetes.

Basal and stimulated IRG values in the overall group of PCA subjects were significantly increased in comparison to 14 normal controls. No significant difference was found between the three groups of patients in respect to IRG values. The mean fasting IRG levels, grouped in relation to the age of shunt, were significantly raised six months after surgery. In addition no significant difference in IRG values (fasting or stimulated) was observed in relation to the entity of the liver disease (child degree) or to the type of surgical shunt.

Finally, when PCA patients with or without encephalopathy were considered, fasting and peak IRG values were significantly increased in those patients with encephalopathy.

Key-Words:

Glucagon - Liver Cirrhosis - Surgical Shunt - Encephalopathy - Diabetes mellitus

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