[Hyperinsulinaemia and impaired glucose tolerance in chronic inflammatory liver disease (author's disease)].

In 64 patients suffering from chronic inflammatory liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis, chronic active hepatitis, chronic persistent hepatitis) significantly increased values of blood glucose and insulin, free fatty acids and C-peptide were observed during a 100 g oral glucose load. Fasting values of blood glucose, free fatty acids and C-peptide were also increased, while serum growth hormone remained unchanged. In patients with chronic active hepatitis the C-peptide/insulin-ratio, a measure for hepatic insulin degradation, was significantly lowered after glucose uptake. During oral load there were no discernible differences between the different types of chronic inflammatory liver disease concerning blood glucose, serum insulin and free fatty acids. In normal weight and in overweight patients suffering from liver disease blood glucose and serum insulin values were increased to the same extent. As it is known from the liver cirrhosis chronic inflammatory liver disease lead to an insulin resistance, to which elevated free fatty acid levels contribute. Increased body weight has no influence on the insulin resistance observed in chronic liver inflammation. From the changes of the C-peptide and the C-peptide/insulin-ratio it can be deduced, that the hyperinsulinism in patients with chronic inflammatory liver disease is due to both insulin hypersecretion and diminished hepatic insulin degradation.