HYPOGLYCEMIA IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the frequency of hypoglycemia in
patients with advanced cirrhosis and its possible precipitating factors. Design: It was a simple descriptive study.
Setting: Ist Medical Unit Nishtar Hospital Multan. Period: July 1997 to July 1998. Material and Methods:
Fifty patients with advanced cirrhosis (child B and C) were studied. Diabetic patients, those who had fasting
plasma glucose above normal and those on I/V dextrose infusion were excluded from study. Results: 34 (68%)
patients had child C disease and 16 (32%) patients had child B disease. On the basis of plasma glucose level,
patients were divided into 3 groups. Group I (fasting plasma glucose <50 mg%) included 3 (6%) patients. All
had symptoms of hypoglycemia and evidence of sepsis (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis 2, Urinary tract
infection 1). 18 (36%) patients in the second group (blood glucose 50-60 mg%) and 79 (58%) patients in the
third group (blood glucose >60 mg%) had no compounding factors. Their ages were between 35 and 63 years.
Conclusions: Fasting hypoglycemia was seen only in decompensated cirrhosis. It was more likely to occur in
the presence of complicating factors response to hypoglycemia was intact.