Peripheral muscle glucose and potassium transport in a family with acanthosis nigricans and insulin resistance.

This study was designed to determine the forearm exchange of glucose and potassium in four members of a family exhibiting acanthosis nigricans and insulin resistance. Total areas under the curves for potassium release or uptake were within the normal range in all patients. Peripheral glucose uptake, however, was normal in 3 patients and lower in one patient. In the latter patient, the dissociation observed between glucose and potassium transport suggests several manners of differential impairment of insulin action and/or steps distal to the insulin receptor as being responsible for insulin resistance.