J Korean Soc Endocrinol.
1997 Jun;12(2):275-282.
Glucose metabolism in chronic hepatitis B infection-acute insulin response and glucose disappearance rate to intravenous glucose
Abstract
- BACKGROUND
Glucose intolerance and diabetes mellitus are frequently observed in chronic liver disease. However, the causal relationships between these two are difficult to prove. Chronic hepatitis B infection, which is prevalent in Korea, is thought to be a good model to study the natural history of abnormal glucose metabolism in chronic liver disease because many patients with chronic hepatitis B infection eventually progress to liver cirrhosis.
METHODS
In order to evaluate glucose metabolism in chronic hepatitis B infection, we did intravenous glucose tolerance test in patients with chronic hepatitis B and age, sex and body mass index matched controls and compared the first phase insulin response and glucose disappearance rates between 2 groups.
RESULTS
Patients with chronic hepatitis B showed lower glucose disappearance rate and higher plasma insulin and C-peptide area (0-10min after iv glucose) than controls. Patients with decreased glucose disappearance rate had higher AST level and decreased plasma C-peptide area (0-10min).
CONCLUSION
Most of the patients with chronic hepatits B infection is associated with insulin resistance and compensatory increase in the first phase insulin secretion. Inadequate insulin secretion may contribute to decreased glucose disappearance rate in these patients.
