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Dextrose, insulin and epinephrine tolerance tests in cirrhosis of the liver

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The American Journal of Digestive Diseases

Summary

1. Intravenous dextrose, intravenous insulin and intramuscular epinephrine tolerance tests were performed in a group of patients with cirrhosis of the liver and the responses classified according to the nature of the venous blood sugar changes induced. Serum inorganic phosphate levels were simultaneously determined.

2. Of 17 who received intravenous dextrose, 12 showed a normal, three a diminished (pseudo-diabetic) and two an exaggerated response. Of 14 receiving intravenous insulin, six yielded normal, four diminished and four exaggerated responses. Of these same 14, 11 exhibited an abnormal and three a normal tolerance curve to the intramuscular injection of epinephrine.

3. There was no apparent consistent correlation among the results in the three tests employed, nor were parallel changes exhibited between blood sugar and serum inorganic phosphate curves.

4. While an abnormal response to intramuscularly injected epinephrine is most frequently observed, none of the tolerance tests performed appears to be a reliable index of disturbed hepatic function or of the degree or duration of liver damage present in patients with cirrhosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brooklyn, N. Y.

    Robert W. Hillman M.D.

  2. From the research Service, First Division, Goldwater Memorial Hospital, USA

    Robert W. Hillman M.D.

  3. the Department of Medicine, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York City

    Robert W. Hillman M.D.

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  1. Robert W. Hillman M.D.
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Hillman, R.W. Dextrose, insulin and epinephrine tolerance tests in cirrhosis of the liver. A. J. D. D. 16, 174–179 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03004896

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03004896

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