PRIMARY NA+ H+ EXCHANGER DYSFUNCTION - A POSSIBLE EXPLANATION FOR INSULIN-RESISTANCE SYNDROME/

Insulin resistance has been recently distinguished as a syndrome assoc iated with a clustering of metabolic disorders, including non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), obesity, hypertension, dyslipidem ia and atherosclerosis. To date, it is thought that all of these disor ders are the resulting consequences of primary insulin resistance. We propose that insulin resistance and the metabolic diseases mentioned c an be caused by primary overactivity of the Na+/H+ exchange. This hypo thesis has practical connotations for understanding the pathogenesis o f the insulin resistance syndrome.