Pancreatic polypeptide administration improves abnormal glucose metabolism in patients with chronic pancreatitis.

Abstract

Chronic pancreatitis (CP) is associated with lowered plasma levels and a blunted nutrient-induced release of pancreatic polypeptide (PP). To investigate the possible role of PP on glucose metabolism, we studied male patients with documented CP (n = 5) and obesity-matched control subjects (NL) (n = 6). Hepatic glucose production (HGP) and overall glucose disposal rates were determined by [3-3H]glucose infusion during a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp during three separate admissions. Basal rates of HGP were higher in CP patients. In response to an infusion of insulin (60 pmol.m-2.min-1), HGP fell 91 +/- 5% in NL subjects but only 68 +/- 8% in CP subjects (P < 0.05). One month later, the clamp was repeated during the final 2 h of an 8-h infusion of bovine PP (2 pmol.kg-1.min-1). HGP before the insulin infusion and its subsequent suppression (NL: 83 +/- 5%; CP: 86 +/- 15%) were nearly identical between groups. In follow-up studies 1 month after the PP infusion, HGP both basally and in response to insulin alone were similar to the first study. During oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) performed 18 h after the PP infusion, subjects with normal (n = 7) baseline OGTT responses showed no effect. All patients with diabetic (n = 3) or nondiagnostic (n = 1) OGTT responses, however, demonstrated lowered mean plasma glucose levels (approximately -2.3 mmol/L; range: -0.6 to -7.2 mmol/L). OGTTs repeated 1 month after the PP treatment showed a return to pretreatment responses. We conclude that chronic pancreatitis accompanied by PP deficiency is associated with partial hepatic resistance both in the basal state and in response to hyperinsulinemia. This impairment is reversed after iv PP administration. PP deficiency may therefore play a role in the development of pancreatogenic diabetes caused by pancreatic injury.

• Authors: F C Brunicardi, R L Chaiken, A S Ryan, N E Seymour, J A Hoffmann, H E Lebovitz, R E Chance, R L Gingerich, D K Andersen, D Elahi
• Journal: The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism (J Clin Endocrinol Metab) Vol. 81 Issue 10 Pg. 3566-72 (Oct 1996) ISSN: 0021-972X [Print] United States
• PMID: 8855802 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Blood Glucose
• Insulin
• Pancreatic Polypeptide
• Glucagon
• Glucose

Topics

• Adult
• Blood Glucose (metabolism)
• Chronic Disease
• Glucagon (blood)
• Glucose (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Glucose Clamp Technique
• Humans
• Insulin (administration & dosage, blood)
• Kinetics
• Liver (metabolism)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Pancreatic Polypeptide (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Pancreatitis (drug therapy, metabolism)