PLASMA SOMATOSTATIN RESPONSE TO AN ORAL MIXED TEST MEAL IN CIRRHOTIC-PATIENTS

Ten patients with non-alcoholic cirrhosis and ten control subjects were studied in basal conditions and after ingestion of a standard mixed test meal. Plasma somatostatin, blood glucose, plasma insulin, C-peptide and glucagon were determined before and 12, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min after the start of the meal. Basal somatostatin levels in patients (31.9 +/- 1.8 ng/l) were significantly higher (p < 0.01) than in controls (12.5 +/- 0.9 ng/l). The time-course of the somatostatin secretory response after the meal was similar in the two groups, but the increase, evaluated as incremental area above baseline, was significantly smaller (p < 0.01) in cirrhotics (804 +/- 134 ng/l per min) than in controls (1482 +/- 149 ng/l per min). Data indicate that elevated basal plasma somatostatin concentrations in cirrhosis may be consequent to elevated gastrointestinal and/or pancreatic secretion, whereas the blunted somatostatin response to the mixed test meal may derive from the hyperinsulinemia which occurs in the postprandial period.