[Glucose tolerance and neurogenic muscular atrophies (author's transl)]

Glucose tolerance is reduced in patients suffering from neurogenic muscular atrophies. In a group of 20 patients with myatrophic lateral sclerosis the extent of atrophy correlated significantly with the decrease in glucose tolerance. Creatinine excretion was used as a measure of functioning muscle mass. Insulin secretion was not reduced, on the contrary, it was strongly pronounced in these cases. The observations are not explained by a decrease in distribution volume of glucose. By testing glucose tolerance, functions of sceletal muscles are examined at the same time. In evaluating the results, the functioning muscle mass has to be taken into account.