Glucose homeostasis after orthotopic liver transplantation in the pig

Plasma glucose, insulin, and C-peptide were measured in seven pigs after intravenous bolus injection of 1 mg glucagon and injection of 15 g glucose on the 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 7th days after orthotopic liver transplantation. Fasting plasma glucose and the glycemic response to glucagon were lower at the first postoperative day than on any other day (P less than 0.05). Glucose clearance after injection of glucose was normal and without day-to-day variation. Plasma insulin and C-peptide concentrations were higher the first day after glucose stimulation (P less than 0.05), but no impairment of insulin secretion was found during the study. We conclude that, apart from low hepatic glucose production on the first postoperative day, glucose homeostasis was sufficient after liver transplantation.