The incidence of plasma insulin, blood sugar and serum lipid abnormalities in patients with atherosclerotic disease

Abstract

The incidence of abnormalities of fasting serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels and blood sugar and plasma insulin response to an oral glucose load have been investigated in a group of 51 male patients with atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease. These have been compared with an age and sex matched group of 47 healthy controls. Both groups showed a similar degree of obesity. The most common single abnormality was a prolonged and increased plasma insulin response, which was much more frequently seen among patients than controls. Over 75% of the patients showed abnormality of blood sugar or insulin response. Elevation of fasting levels of serum lipids was considerably less common, although the mean serum cholesterol level of the patients was significantly higher than that of the controls. The relevance of these results is discussed. © 1971 Springer-Verlag.