Relationship between the blood glucagon, growth hormone and glucose levels in myocardial infarction.

The blood levels of glucagon, growth hormone and glucose were investigated in early (1st day) and late stages (3rd week) of myocardial infarction in 11 cases of severe and 6 cases of mild myocardial infarction. The results were related to those in 9 healthy controls. In severe myocardial infarction associated with complications the glucagon level was statistically significantly higher than in controls in the early as well as in the late stage of the disease. In mild myocardial infarction this was not observed. The growth hormone level was significantly higher than normal in patients with severe myocardial infarction in only a few cases and only in the early stage. The differences between both stages of infarction and between patients and controls were not significant. Blood glucose level in the early stage of severe myocardial infarction was higher than normal and statistically significantly higher than in the late stage. In view of the differences in blood glucose and glucogon levels during severe myocardial infarction it seems that hyperglycemia in early stages of the disease depends on the high catecholamines level in the blood and on the insulin: glucagon index and not on the absolute concentration of glucagon in the blood.