title: [Clinical usefulness of the glucagon test in the study of pancreatic islet cell function].
abstract: In an attempt to assess the utility of glucagon test as an index of beta cell function, we have studied the C-Peptide response to intravenous injection of 1 mg of glucagon in 77 patients with type I diabetes, 27 type II diabetics and 14 normal subjects. A significant difference between basal and glucagon-stimulated C-Peptide levels as well as a good relationship between both values were observed in all groups (r values 0.91, 0.80 and 0.89 respectively). Both basal and stimulated C-Peptide concentrations showed significant relationship with the body mass index and total cholesterol levels, whereas both parameters were negatively related to insulin requirements in type I diabetic group. Absolute C-Peptide increment was different in all groups, despite it was not related to basal C-Peptide levels. These findings confirm the usefulness of glucagon test as an investigative tool to assess the secretory capacity of beta-cell, suggesting that estimation of C-Peptide increment represents the best parameter to evaluate beta-cell reserve.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Endocrinología, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Llorente
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Goñi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Forga
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Monreal
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lizcano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moncada
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D005934:Glucagon / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002096:C-Peptide; D005934:Glucagon
vernacular_title: Utilidad clínica del test de glucagón en el estudio de la función insular pancreática.