Pancreatic hormone changes in infantile obstructive jaundice.

Metabolic disturbances of pancreatic hormones in obstructive jaundice in infancy were evaluated experimentally and clinically. In our experimental study, using young rats, the level of plasma insulin (IRI) gradually increased after ligation of the common bile duct. These levels were a little lower than those in the non-treated controls. The level of plasma glucagon (IRG) increased remarkably 4 weeks after ligation of the common bile duct. Clinically, there were no significant differences in the levels of IRI and IRG among normal controls and cases of neonatal hepatitis and congenital biliary atresia (CBA). In CBA patients, these levels can be correlated with the progression of hepatic fibrosis; an increase in IRG and a decrease in the IRI/IRG mol ratio was noticed in patients with grade III of hepatic fibrosis. These results indicate that, in obstructive jaundice in infancy, the more severe the hepatic damage due to obstructive jaundice, the higher the level of plasma glucagon concentration will rise.