[Immunoreactive insulin and glucagon levels in chronic alcoholism patients].

A total of 38 patients with chronic alcoholism were observed. It was demonstrated that at the 1st stage of alcoholism insulin and glucagon concentrations were raised as compared to the normal level and during transition to the 2nd and 3rd stages the both concentrations decreased. At the 1st stage the ratio of insulin and glucagon molar concentrations to the normal concentration sharply decreased, and at the 2nd stage the ratio increased reaching the normal level at the 3rd stage. However the process is of regular nature and rather individual: in some patients the ratio remains low, on the contrary, in others it becomes high.