Objective: To investigate the plasma level of glucagon in cirrhotic patients with portal hypertension during operation of portacaval shunts.
Methods: Plasma level of glucagon in the portal venous, peripheral venous and arterial blood in cirrhotic patients (n = 16) and control patients (n = 16) was measured by radioimmunoassay respectively.
Results: The glucagon ratio (pg/ml) of the hepatic cirrhosis group before, during after operation 3 days after operation, 7 days after operation was observed portal venous blood: (189.2 +/- 58.7) pg/ml, (196.1 +/- 54.2) pg/ml vs. (101.9 +/- 44.8) pg/ml, (98.2 +/- 34.1) pg/ml (P < 0.01); peripheral venous blood (184.1 +/- 48.2) pg/ml, (187.5 +/- 42.8) pg/ml vs. (102.4 +/- 34.7) pg/ml, (95.2 +/- 24.9) pg/ml (P < 0.01); arterial blood: (186.3 +/- 51.3) pg/ml, (183.5 +/- 54.2) pg/ml vs. (103.4 +/- 36.3) pg/ml, (93.9 +/- 30.6) pg/ml (P < 0.01). The portal vein pressure was positively correlated to the plasma level of glucagon in portal venous blood of cirrhosis (r = 0.57, P < 0.01).
Conclusions: Hyperglucagonemia may be caused by the decreased glucagon metabolism in cirrhotic liver and hypersecretion of pancreas and the gastrointestinal tract. Hyperglucagonemia may be amended after portacaval shunts.