Effect of simultaneous administration of glucagon and insulin on renal function in patients with liver cirrhosis and ascites.

Since glucagon and insulin (G/I) have been suggested to be hepatotrophic substances, the effect of G/I infusion on the ability to excrete water and sodium was tested in seven patients with cirrhosis and ascites (decompensated group), and compared with that in seven cirrhotics without ascites (compensated group). A constant infusion of 1 U glucagon and 10 U regular insulin over 2 hours daily for 14 days resulted in a significant improvement of prothrombin time in the decompensated group. Concomitantly, an increase in urine volume (62%, p less than 0.02) and a tendency toward an increase in urinary sodium excretion (68%, 0.05 less than p less than 0.1) were observed only in the decompensated group after the G/I infusion. In addition, these were associated with increases in creatinine clearance and osmotic clearance. These results suggest that glucagon and insulin merit further study in hepatorenal syndrome cases.