LOW-DOSE ILOPROST INFUSION IMPROVES INSULIN ACTION AND NON OXIDATIVE GLUCOSE-METABOLISM IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Fourteen hypertensive (174.3/98.3 mmHg) non-diabetic patients were giv en a euglyceamic glucose clamp along with infusion of 0.9% NaCl and th e prostacyclin (PGI(2)) analogue Iloporst (0.7 ng . kg . min(-1)). Sub strate oxidation was also determined by indirect calorimetry. Over the last 60 min of the clamp, Iloprost vs saline improved whole body gluc ose disposal (WBGD) (35 vs 28.3 mu mol . kg(-1) LBM) and non-oxidative glucose metabolism (24.7 vs 18.1 mu mol . kg(-1) LBM min(-1)). Ilopro st delivery was associated with a significant decrease in membrane mic roviscosity (0.253 vs 0.205), but did not affect arterial blood pressu re and heart rate. In nine patients, skeletal muscle blood flow (SMBF) and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (GU) were also studied. At the end of the study, despite a similar SMBF (37 vs 38 ml . min(-1). kg(-1 )), GU (0.55 vs 0.46 mmol . 1(-1)) was significantly increased by Ilop rost infusion. Percentage decrease in membrane microviscosity was corr elated with percentage increase in WBGD (r = 0.65) and non-oxidative g lucose metabolism (r = 0.68). In conclusion, low-dose Iloprost infusio n improves insulin action and non-oxidative glucose metabolism in hype rtensive patients.