Clinical significance of glucagon loading test in liver diseases

Abstract

Plasma cyclic AMP concentration following glucagon injection intravenously (1 μg/kg body weight. was determined in 7 normal subjects, 13 patients with liver cirrhosis, 12 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 4 patients with acute hepatitis. There was no difference of time in reaching their maximal value of plasma cyclic AMP among these groups (10 min after injection of glucagon). When peak value of plasma cyclic AMP was divided by basal one (P/B ratio. in cirrhotics, the value was apparently lower than in normal subjects. Peak value of cyclic AMP in chronic hepatitis was significantly higher than those of normal and cirrhotics, and also higher level in P/B ratio. These parameters in acute hepatitis were almost in increased levels with parallelism to serum bilirubin levels. These data indicate that glucagon test is a useful method for diagnosis of hepatitis, especially for discriminating liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis. © 1979, The Japan Society of Hepatology. All rights reserved.