INSULIN AND GLUCAGON-LEVELS IN LIVING-RELATED LIVER-TRANSPLANTATION -THEIR INTERACTION WITH THE RECOVERY OF GRAFT RIVER FUNCTION

Insulin and glucagon have opposite effects on various hepatic function s, including energy metabolism, which is essential for hepatic viabili ty. To evaluate the effects of insulin and glucagon on the recovery of graft liver function, changes in these levels were investigated in re lation to arterial ketone body ratio (AKBR) during a 30-h period after graft liver reperfusion in 29 recipients of living related liver tran splants. Insulin levels did not change significantly throughout this s tudy, while glucagon levels decreased immediately after reperfusion, i ndicating a rapid degradation of glucagon by the graft liver. The insu lin/glucagon (I/G) ratio increased after reperfusion concomitantly wit h AKBR, In addition, the I/G ratio was significantly correlated with A KBR after reperfusion. It is concluded that the increase in the I/G ra tio was closely related to the recovery of graft liver function as ref lected by the AKBR in living related liver transplantation.