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Published on: January 7, 2018
[Insulin resistance in liver diseases]
Zeitschrift Fur Gastroenterologie
|August 1, 1986
Summary
Insulin resistance is common in liver diseases due to postreceptor defects, primarily in muscles. While high insulin levels result from reduced liver degradation, the exact causes of this insulin resistance remain unknown.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Hepatology
- Metabolic Research
Context:
- Insulin resistance is frequently observed in various liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, hepatitis, and idiopathic hemochromatosis.
- This condition is characterized by the coexistence of hyperinsulinemia with normal or impaired carbohydrate tolerance.
Purpose:
- To investigate the mechanisms underlying insulin resistance in liver diseases.
- To differentiate between receptor and postreceptor defects in insulin action.
Summary:
- Insulin resistance in liver diseases may stem from circulating insulin antagonists or target tissue defects, potentially involving insulin receptor or postreceptor abnormalities.
- Elevated insulin levels are primarily attributed to diminished hepatic insulin degradation, not hypersecretion.
- Studies suggest peripheral insulin insensitivity, particularly in muscle tissue, is linked to postreceptor defects, as evidenced by clamp technique studies in liver cirrhosis.
Impact:
- Clarifies that while high insulin levels are due to reduced liver clearance, the precise causes of insulin resistance in liver conditions are still under investigation.
- Highlights the importance of postreceptor defects in peripheral tissues, like muscle, in the development of insulin resistance.
- Suggests that research on insulin receptors of peripheral blood cells may not be the most fruitful avenue for understanding liver disease-related insulin resistance.
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