title: Insulin sensitivity and early-phase insulin secretion in normoglycemic Huntington's disease patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded CAG repeat in exon 1 of the HTT gene. There is increasing evidence pointing towards an involvement of the endocrine system in HD. Recent studies, investigating the increased risk of diabetes mellitus and impaired insulin sensitivity and secretion in HD patients, led to contradictory results.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate glucose homeostasis in HD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight consecutive patients with HD and 28 healthy controls were matched for age, sex, and BMI. Diagnosis of HD was confirmed genetically. Clinical tools for assessment were the Unified Huntington's Disease Rating Scale (UHDRS) motor section and the Total Function Capacity (TFC). Basal metabolic and endocrine investigations and a 2-hour 75-g oGTT were performed. We used the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) as index of insulin sensitivity and the insulinogenic index to assess insulin secretion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HD patients did not differ from the controls with respect to fasting plasma glucose, insulin sensitivity and secretion. CAG expansion size, disease stage and duration, or BMI did not influence HOMA-IR and insulinogenic index. Patients showed lower serum glucose (-19%) and insulin levels (-48%) at 30 min and higher serum insulin levels at 90 (+132%) and 120 min (+380%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data do not support an increased risk of diabetes among HD patients although they show glucose regulation abnormalities with a flat glucose curve and delayed insulin peak after oral glucose load.
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Cinzia V
authors: CV
authors: Russo
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Salvatore
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Saccà
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Tecla
authors: T
authors: Tucci
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Carlo
authors: C
authors: Rinaldi
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Pierpaolo
authors: P
authors: Sorrentino
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Massarelli
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Fabiana
authors: F
authors: Rossi
authors: e di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Savastano
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Luigi
authors: L
authors: Di Maio
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Alessandro
authors: A
authors: Filla
authors: e di Medicina Clinica e Chirurgia, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Annamaria
authors: A
authors: Colao
authors: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze e Scienze Riproduttive ed Odontostomatologiche, Università Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: De Michele
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose
keywords: Huntington's disease; glucose regulation; insulin secretion; insulin sensitivity