Twenty four healthy control subjects as well as 57 patients with
chronic liver diseases (11 with bilharzial hepatic fibrosis; 13 with chronic
active hepatitis (C.A.H); 12 with liver cirrhosis, 10 with C.A.H.and cirrhosis
and 11 with chronic persistent hepatitis (C.P.HI) constituted the
material of this study.
For controls and patients, in addition to thorough clinical examination,
routine laboratory investigations, liver biopsy (for patients only)
and abdominal sonography, the following investigations were performed:
serum albumin estimation, total proteins, serum fructosamine, plasma
glucose and serum insulin levels during fasting as well as 2-hours after
ingesting 75 gm. glucose.
The results of this study showed:
1- Plasma glucose levels during fasting was normal in all the investigated
5 groups of patients, while 2-hours after ingesting glucose,
the levels were significantly higher in all groups indicating delayed
disposal of the glucose load.
2- Serum insulin levels in the fasting state and after oral glucose load
were higher in all groups of patients when compared to the control. |
