[Plasma glucagon in alcoholic cirrhosis: cross reaction with IgG]

Glucagon secretion has been tested in 12 cirrhotic patients and the results have been compared with those obtained in 10 normal subjects. Two antisera reputed to be specific for glucagon (antiserum 30-K and antiserum RCS5) were used. The patients with cirrhosis exhibited significantly higher levels of plasma immunoreactivity for glucagon, suggesting hyperglucagonemia when using antiserum 30-K but not when using antiserum RCS 5. A positive correlation (r = 0.527, p less than 0.001) was found between plasma immunoreactive glucagon measured by antiserum 30-K and IgG. With antiserum RCS 5 there was no such correlation. These data suggest that hyperglucagonemia may be wrongly suspected when glucagon is measured with antiserum 30-K, due to cross-reaction with IgG. Cirrhotic patients exhibit only a slight increase of glucagon.