Pancreatic endocrine function in leukemic children treated with L-asparaginase.
The effect of arginine infusion on blood glucose and plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide and glucagon has been studied in leukemic children before and after treatment with L-asparaginase (10,000 U/m2/day for 10 days). Therapy induced a significant reduction in basal and peak blood glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels, while glucagon was unmodified. The conserved C-peptide-insulin molar ratio suggests the interference of L-asparaginase with proinsulin synthesis. In conclusion our results prove a decreased insulin reserve with a preserved, although reduced, beta-cell function.
D001215:Asparaginase / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002096:C-Peptide / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000187:drug effects; D007938:Leukemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010179:Pancreas / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D002096:C-Peptide; D007328:Insulin; D005934:Glucagon; D001215:Asparaginase