[Plasma level of glucagon in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension during operation of portacaval shunts].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the plasma level of glucagon in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension during operation of portacaval shunts.


METHODS
Plasma level of glucagon in the portal venous, peripheral venous and arterial blood in cirrhotic patients (n = 16) and control patients (n = 16) was measured by radioimmunoassay respectively.


RESULTS
The glucagon ratio (pg/ml) of the hepatic cirrhosis group before, during after operation 3 days after operation, 7 days after operation was observed portal venous blood: (189.2 +/- 58.7) pg/ml, (196.1 +/- 54.2) pg/ml vs. (101.9 +/- 44.8) pg/ml, (98.2 +/- 34.1) pg/ml (P < 0.01); peripheral venous blood (184.1 +/- 48.2) pg/ml, (187.5 +/- 42.8) pg/ml vs. (102.4 +/- 34.7) pg/ml, (95.2 +/- 24.9) pg/ml (P < 0.01); arterial blood: (186.3 +/- 51.3) pg/ml, (183.5 +/- 54.2) pg/ml vs. (103.4 +/- 36.3) pg/ml, (93.9 +/- 30.6) pg/ml (P < 0.01). The portal vein pressure was positively correlated to the plasma level of glucagon in portal venous blood of cirrhosis (r = 0.57, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Hyperglucagonemia may be caused by the decreased glucagon metabolism in cirrhotic liver and hypersecretion of pancreas and the gastrointestinal tract. Hyperglucagonemia may be amended after portacaval shunts.
Feng
H
H
Department of Surgery, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100044.
Zhang
Z
Z
Leng
X
X
Li
S
S
Zhu
J
J
Du
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005934:Glucagon / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical
D005934:Glucagon