[Characteristics of the endocrine function of the pancreas in diffuse toxic goiter in children]

The examination of 28 children with diffuse toxic goiter showed disturbance of glucose tolerance with a significant decrease in the level of C-peptide in the blood serum and its response to glucose. The concentration of immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and its increment under the influence of a glucose tolerance test in children was much above the normal. At the same time the molar C-peptide/IRI ratio in the patients' sera both on an empty stomach and during the glucose tolerance test showed a dramatic decrease indicating the reduction of insulin extraction by the liver as a cause of peripheral hyperinsulinemia. Distortion of the plasma immunoreactive glucagon reaction to a glucose tolerance test was observed in children with diffuse toxic goiter.