Postprandial hepatic glycogen synthesis in liver transplant recipients.
BACKGROUND
The liver plays a central role in glucose homeostasis by releasing glucose in the fasting state and by taking up and converting into glycogen part of the glucose absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract after meal ingestion.


METHODS
To determine whether the hepatic denervation that accompanies liver transplantation interferes with these functions, we assessed glucose tolerance to an oral glucose load in seven patients at 2-6 weeks after orthotopic liver transplantation, in six patients after kidney transplantation, and in six healthy controls. Hepatic glycogen synthesis was non-invasively assessed over the 4 hours after ingestion of a glucose load by monitoring hepatic uridine diphosphoglucose turnover with 13C galactose and acetaminophen.


RESULTS
Liver and kidney transplant recipients had increased postprandial glucose concentrations but normal hepatic uridine diphosphoglucose turnover, indicating an unaltered hepatic glycogen synthesis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that denervated liver transplants have an adequate glucoregulatory function. Postprandial hyperglycemia in liver transplant recipients is therefore not due to alterations of liver glucose metabolism.
Schneiter
P
P
Institute of Physiology, University of Lausanne, Switzerland.
Gillet
M
M
Chioléro
R
R
Wauters
J P
JP
Berger
M
M
Tappy
L
L
D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D004435:Eating / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006003:Glycogen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011184:Postoperative Period; D014532:Uridine Diphosphate Glucose / Q000378:metabolism
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006003:Glycogen; D014532:Uridine Diphosphate Glucose