[Chlorpropamide-alcohol flush test in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in young age (MODY type)]

The chlorpropamide alcohol flush test (CPAF) has been described as a dominantly inherited feature in NIDDM, particularly of young people (MODY-type). Validity and usefulness of the CPAF were analyzed in 40 MODY-patients recruiting from a population study (criteria acc. to Tattersall and Fajans, 1975), 59 first degree relatives (24 diabetics, 35 non-diabetics), 40 NIDDM of maturity onset, 40 IDDM, and 40 healthy controls. The CPAF (single challenge test, placebo control, subjective evaluation by questionnaire acc. to Köbberling, 1980) proved to be positive in only 8 MODY-patients and 5 of diabetic first-degree relatives. In comparison to NIDDM of maturity onset (40/8), IDDM (40/6) and healthy controls (40/2) the frequency of positive CPAF showed no significant differences. Between flushers and non-flushers within the MODY-group no relationship to vascular findings, metabolic and genetic data (including HLA-typing) could be found. It is concluded that the CPAF is a real but rather nonspecific phenomenon unsuitable as a genetic marker.