[Beta-cell activity during the oral glucose tolerance test in subjects with hepatic cirrhosis]

To study beta-cells response during liver cirrhosis, OGTT (0.75 g/kg b.w.) was performed in 7 cirrhotic patients (histologically diagnosed). An impaired glucose tolerance was observed in all the subjects: basal plasma glucose was 0.74 g/l +/- 0.05 (M +/- SEM); at 90 min was 1.50 g/l +/- 0.10, and at 180 min was 1.10 g/l +/- 0.17. Plasma insulin peak was delayed at 90 min (78.2 microU/ml +/- 27.7); two patients showed basal hyperinsulinemia. C peptide concentration reached the peak at 120 min (3.6 ng/ml +/- 0.5), in agreement with Gragnoli and coll. Plasma insulin concentration did not correlate with hepatic laboratory findings. All the patients had severe liver disease, including esophageal varices; in 4 patients ascites was observed. The results show that impaired glucose tolerance in patients with liver cirrhosis is not directly related to the degree of the disease and confirm the decreased insulin catabolism and peripheric resistance.