[The behavior of glucose tolerance, serum insulin and C-peptide in acute viral hepatitis].

On 35 patients with acute hepatitis had been carried out intravenous glucose-tolerance-tests (0,5 g glucose/kg). The assimilation coefficient of glucose and the level of insulin were determined during the acute phase of illness and the recovery phase. In 8 cases additionally C-peptide was determined to interpret the regulation of insulin-secretion and hepatic reduction. During the acute phase of illness the glucose-tolerance-test proofed 15 x clearly and 13 x limiting pathological. Except one patient all cases showed an improvement during recovery and 21 x a normalisation of glucose-tolerance. The serum-insulin-analysis gave 28 x lower figures during the acute phase compared to the healing-phase, whereas the determination of the C-peptide showed higher figures matching the enhanced glucose concentrations, which proves a normal regulation of insulin-secretion during the acute phase of disease in hepatitis. Because of the enhanced C-peptide/insulin-index our results support that in the early state of hepatitis the lower insulin figures are caused through a higher insulin clearance of the acute inflamed liver.