Interferon-alpha in the treatment of neuroendocrine tumours: effect on glucose tolerance and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion.
OBJECTIVE
To find out whether long term treatment of neuroendocrine tumours with interferon-alpha has any effect on glucose metabolism or insulin secretion.


METHODS
Open study.


METHODS
Department of Surgery, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.


METHODS
Three women and two men, age range 47-72 years. One woman had a pancreatic gastrinoma, the others midgut carcinoids, and all had multiple liver metastases.


METHODS
Intravenous and oral glucose challenges (separated by at least a week) before treatment, and then yearly for three years.


METHODS
Changes in plasma insulin and blood glucose concentrations.


RESULTS
Neither the basal concentrations of plasma insulin or blood glucose nor the responses to the glucose challenges changed during the three year period.


CONCLUSIONS
Long term treatment with interferon-alpha has no obvious adverse effects on glucose tolerance or insulin secretion.
Ahrén
B
B
Department of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002276:Carcinoid Tumor / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D015408:Gastrinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000078790:Insulin Secretion; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007414:Intestinal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D016898:Interferon-alpha