Biomaterial Database

Treatment of fulminant hepatic failure with insulin and glucagon. A randomized, controlled trial. 1991

G M Woolf, and A G Redeker

University of Southern California Liver Unit, Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center, Downey.

Insulin and glucagon are among the therapeutic modalities that have been investigated in the treatment of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF). We have completed a randomized, controlled trial of insulin and glucagon in 38 patients with FHF from either viral or toxin exposure. The control and treatment groups consisted of 21 and 17 patients, respectively, and did not differ significantly in etiology or admission laboratory values. Mortality was not significantly different between control and treatment groups and was 67% and 82%, respectively. Time from randomization to death or discharge was not significantly different between the two groups. Peak levels of alpha-fetoprotein were statistically higher in survivors than in nonsurvivors (P less than 0.01). We conclude that even though a type-2 error may exist, the combination of insulin and glucagon is not useful in the treatment of FHF.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007328	Insulin	A 51-amino acid pancreatic hormone that plays a major role in the regulation of glucose metabolism, directly by suppressing endogenous glucose production (GLYCOGENOLYSIS; GLUCONEOGENESIS) and indirectly by suppressing GLUCAGON secretion and LIPOLYSIS. Native insulin is a globular protein comprised of a zinc-coordinated hexamer. Each insulin monomer containing two chains, A (21 residues) and B (30 residues), linked by two disulfide bonds. Insulin is used as a drug to control insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (DIABETES MELLITUS, TYPE 1).	Iletin,Insulin A Chain,Insulin B Chain,Insulin, Regular,Novolin,Sodium Insulin,Soluble Insulin,Chain, Insulin B,Insulin, Sodium,Insulin, Soluble,Regular Insulin
D008297	Male		Males
D004359	Drug Therapy, Combination	Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect.	Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D005260	Female		Females
D005934	Glucagon	A 29-amino acid pancreatic peptide derived from proglucagon which is also the precursor of intestinal GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDES. Glucagon is secreted by PANCREATIC ALPHA CELLS and plays an important role in regulation of BLOOD GLUCOSE concentration, ketone metabolism, and several other biochemical and physiological processes. (From Gilman et al., Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th ed, p1511)	Glucagon (1-29),Glukagon,HG-Factor,Hyperglycemic-Glycogenolytic Factor,Proglucagon (33-61),HG Factor,Hyperglycemic Glycogenolytic Factor
D006501	Hepatic Encephalopathy	A syndrome characterized by central nervous system dysfunction in association with LIVER FAILURE, including portal-systemic shunts. Clinical features include lethargy and CONFUSION (frequently progressing to COMA); ASTERIXIS; NYSTAGMUS, PATHOLOGIC; brisk oculovestibular reflexes; decorticate and decerebrate posturing; MUSCLE SPASTICITY; and bilateral extensor plantar reflexes (see REFLEX, BABINSKI). ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHY may demonstrate triphasic waves. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp1117-20; Plum & Posner, Diagnosis of Stupor and Coma, 3rd ed, p222-5)	Encephalopathy, Hepatic,Portosystemic Encephalopathy,Encephalopathy, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathy, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathy, Portosystemic,Fulminant Hepatic Failure with Cerebral Edema,Hepatic Coma,Hepatic Stupor,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathy,Coma, Hepatic,Comas, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatic,Encephalopathies, Hepatocerebral,Encephalopathies, Portal-Systemic,Encephalopathies, Portosystemic,Encephalopathy, Portal Systemic,Hepatic Comas,Hepatic Encephalopathies,Hepatic Stupors,Hepatocerebral Encephalopathies,Portal Systemic Encephalopathy,Portal-Systemic Encephalopathies,Portosystemic Encephalopathies,Stupor, Hepatic,Stupors, Hepatic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D000509	alpha-Fetoproteins	The first alpha-globulins to appear in mammalian sera during FETAL DEVELOPMENT and the dominant serum proteins in early embryonic life.	alpha-Fetoprotein,alpha Fetoprotein,alpha Fetoproteins
D015996	Survival Rate	The proportion of survivors in a group, e.g., of patients, studied and followed over a period, or the proportion of persons in a specified group alive at the beginning of a time interval who survive to the end of the interval. It is often studied using life table methods.	Cumulative Survival Rate,Mean Survival Time,Cumulative Survival Rates,Mean Survival Times,Rate, Cumulative Survival,Rate, Survival,Rates, Cumulative Survival,Rates, Survival,Survival Rate, Cumulative,Survival Rates,Survival Rates, Cumulative,Survival Time, Mean,Survival Times, Mean,Time, Mean Survival,Times, Mean Survival