ANTIBODY STUDIES IN PATIENTS ON MIXED BOVINE/PORCINE INSULINS

A study of two groups of diabetic sera has been carried out with reference to total insulin binding capacity and preferential binding of beef and pork insulin. Group I (25 patients) received insulin containing pre-dominantly beef insulin with a beef/pork ratio of 3:1 approximately; Group II (13 patients) received insulin containing at least 97% pork insulin. In Group I the mean total insulin binding capacity was 15.38U/litre and in 21 beef insulin was preferentially bound with reference to pork insulin. Group II was divided into two subgroups: group IIa, 7 patients, the sera bound beef > pork, and the mean insulin binding capacity was 8 U/l. Group IIb, 6 patients, the sera bound pork > beef or showed no preference, and the mean insulin binding capacity was 3.1 U/l. The mean insulin dose in Group IIa was 34.8 and in Group IIb was 24. The mean insulin binding capacity and mean insulin dose were significantly different (P < 0.05) between Group IIa and Group IIb. The possible significance of the results is discussed. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.