The gut hormone profile of fulminant hepatic failure.

Twenty-five patients with fulminant hepatic failure and grade III or IV hepatic encephalopathy were studied. Plasma insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide and enteroglucagon were significantly raised. Levels of secretin and gastrin were normal, while motilin concentrations were significantly depressed. Vasoactive intestinal polypeptide was increased in six patients and was significantly higher in those patients who were hypotensive or who had marked prolongation of prothrombin time.