title: Decreased insulin binding to red blood cells in liver cirrhosis.
abstract: eleven male cirrhotic subjects, all with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), were studied. Insulin binding to circulating erythrocytes was evaluated. The specific bound fraction was decreased compared to normals (5.95 +/-0.76 vs 7.08 +/- 0.84%; p less than 0.005). An negative correlation was found between fasting insulin and bound fraction (r = -0.68; p less than 0.05). We suggest that serum insulin may be chronically augmented as a consequence of liver damage. This induces a down-regulation of insulin receptors that is responsible for insulin resistance and at least in part for the impairment of glucose tolerance.
mesh_terms: D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin