title: Serum level of free fatty acids is associated with nocturnal hypoglycemia in cirrhotic patients with HCV infection: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nocturnal hypoglycemia is an aggravating factor for liver cirrhosis. However, in patients with compensated liver cirrhosis, a clinical parameter associated with nocturnal hypoglycemia remains unclear. The aim of this study is to investigate a clinical parameter associated with nocturnal hypoglycemia in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related compensated liver cirrhosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty patients with HCV-related compensated liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this study. Nocturnal glucose profile was examined by the Continuous Glucose Monitoring System. According to the glucose levels between 21:00 to 6:00, patients were classified into a normoglycemia group (glucose level >70 mg/dL, n=10) or a nocturnal hypoglycemia group (glucose level <70 mg/dL, n=10). Differences in body compositions and biochemical parameters were examined between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty percent of compensated cirrhotic patients showed nocturnal hypoglycemia. The serum level of free fatty acids, but not any other parameters, was significantly higher in the nocturnal hypoglycemia group compared to that in the normoglycemia group (553 +/- 209 vs. 367 +/- 131 mEq/L; p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nocturnal hypoglycemia occurred even in compensated cirrhotic patients. Higher serum level of free fatty acids may suggest the presence of nocturnal hypoglycemia in HCV-related compensated cirrhotic patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Digestive Disease Information & Research, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume 830-0011, Japan. takumi@med.kurume-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawaguchi
authors.forename: Minoru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Itou
authors.forename: Eitaro
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Taniguchi
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakata
authors.forename: Mitsuhiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abe
authors.forename: Hironori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koga
authors.forename: Tetsuharu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oriishi
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Tomoho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sata
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001823:Body Composition; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified