[Glucose tolerance in alcoholic hepatitis. Studies preceding and following alcohol abstinence]

In 51 patients with alcohol-induced liver injury glucose tolerance and insulin incretion were followed under alcohol abstinence over a period of 4 weeks. In 63% of the cases a pathologic glucose tolerance was found at the beginning. After 4 weeks, when the biochemical liver parameter had become normal, glucose tolerance also returned to normal. The serum insulin levels, in contrast, did not develop any changes. Thus, glucose tolerance improved under unchanged absolute insulin concentrations. From these results, we suggest an insulin resistance in cases of active alcoholic liver injury being reversible under the improvement of liver function during alcohol abstinence.