Insulin binding to erythrocytes in hyperinsulinemic patients with precirrhotic hemochromatosis and cirrhosis

Summary This study investigated insulin receptor binding (number and affinity) to erythrocytes in patients with precirrhotic hemochromatosis, patients with cirrhosis, and healthy subjects. To evaluate plasma glucose and insulin levels, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed in all subjects. In the fasting state, all patients exhibited normal glucose levels. Precirrhotic patients showed slight impairment of glucose tolerance while cirrhotic patients were strikingly glucose intolerant. In both patient groups, fasting plasma insulin levels were increased. Following the glucose load, plasma insulin levels were significantly enhanced in precirrhotic patients at 90 and 120 min and increased at all times in cirrhotic patients. In the postabsorptive state (in the presence of hyperinsulinemia) insulin binding and the number and affinity of insulin receptors of erythrocytes were not different in precirrhotic or cirrhotic patients when compared to controls. We conclude that studies of insulin binding on erythrocytes do not contribute to the evaluation of the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in liver disease.Abbreviations K_a affinity constant - OGTT oral glucose tolerance test - R₀ receptor number This work was presented in part at the annual meeting of the German Association for the Study of the Liver, Göttingen, FRG, January 1986, and at the annual meeting of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Innere Medizin, Wiesbaden, FRG, April 1986