[Behavior of plasma/insulin, somatropin and NEFA after intravenous administration of tolbutamide in hepatic cirrhosis].

Cirrhotics presented higher insulin production, in the presence of a drop in glycaemia significantly less than controls, following 1 g of tolbutamide i.v. The drug also brought on a rapid drop in NEFA and a rise in plasma growth hormone. The pathogenesis of altered glucose tolerance in liver cirrhosis is discussed.