Diagnosis of hepatic glycogenosis in poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus

Pathophysiology of diabetic hepatopathy and molecular mechanisms underlying the hepatoprotective effects of phytochemicals

Patients with diabetes are at risk for liver disorders including glycogen hepatopathy, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatic fibrosis. The pathophysiological mechanisms behind diabetic hepatopathy are complex, some of them include fatty acid accumulation, increased reactive oxygen species, increased advanced glycation end-products, hyperactivity of polyol pathways, increased apoptosis and necrosis, and promotion of fibrosis. A growing number of studies have shown that herbal extracts and their active phytochemicals have antihyperglycemic properties and beneficial effects on diabetic complications. The current review, for the first time, focused on herbal agents that showed beneficial effects on diabetic hepatopathy. For example, animal studies have shown that Moringa oleifera and Morus alba improve liver function in both type-1 and type-2 diabetes. Also, evidence from clinical trials suggests that Boswellia serrata, Juglans regia, Melissa officinalis, Portulaca oleracea, Silybum marianum, Talapotaka Churna, and Urtica dioica reduce serum liver enzymes in diabetic patients. The main active ingredient of these plants to protect the liver seems to be phenolic compounds such as niazirin, chlorogenic acid, resveratrol, etc. Mechanisms responsible for the hepatoprotective activity of herbal agents include improving glucose metabolism, restoring adipokines levels, antioxidant defense, and anti-inflammatory activity. Several signaling pathways are involved in hepatoprotective effects of herbal agents in diabetes, such as phosphoinositide 3-kinase, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase.

Role of glucose variability on linear growth in children with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Linear growth is impaired in children with type 1 diabetes (T1D) and poor metabolic control. A good metabolic control is a key therapeutic goal to prevent vascular complications and also to ensure appropriate anthropometric development during childhood. In this study, we aimed to identify and characterize the effects of glycemic variability on linear growth in children with T1D.

METHODS

Data from 144 prepubertal children with T1D were evaluated. Anthropometric measurements (weight, weight-SDS, height, height-SDS, BMI, BMI-SDS) were collected and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was measured at admission and every 4 months over a 2-year period. Glycemic variability indexes (glycemic coefficient of variation (CV), glycemic CV percentage (CV%), and the product between HbA1c-mean and HbA1c-SDS/100 (M*SDS-HbA1c/100)) were calculated. According to height-SDS changes after 2 years of follow-up, the study population was divided into three tertile groups and differences across groups were investigated for variables of interest.

RESULTS

The three groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and follow-up period. After 2 years, all prepubertal children showed a significant positive trend of anthropometric data. Across the three tertile groups, HbA1c-SDS, CV, CV%, and M*SDS-HbA1c significantly decreased from the first to the third tertile of height-SDS. During follow-up, children with lower Δheight-SDS values reported higher values of HbA1c-SDS, CV, CV%, and M*SDS-HbA1c than subjects with higher linear growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Glycemic variability correlates with linear growth in children with T1D. Low glycemic variability indexes were reported in higher height-SDS tertiles. Δheight-SDS is inversely correlated with glycemic CV, CV%, and M*SDS-HbA1c.

Hepatic Glycogenosis: An Underdiagnosed Entity?

Hepatic glycogenosis (HG) is a rare complication of long-standing poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), which is often misdiagnosed as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Despite the existence of several reports in the literature, it still is underrecognized, even among gastroenterologists. Differential diagnosis between these entities is essential since they have different prognoses.

We report a case of an 18-year-old female, with a medical history of poorly controlled T1DM, admitted to an intensive care unit with severe diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Upon admission, aminotransferases were significantly elevated; bilirubin and coagulation tests were normal. Despite adequate DKA treatment, she had persistently elevated aminotransferases and hyperlactacidemia. Imaging studies showed hepatomegaly and bright liver parenchyma. Extensive laboratory workup was negative for other causes of liver disease. So, a liver biopsy was performed, which was consistent with the diagnosis of HG. Under strict metabolic control, she had progressive improvement, achieving biochemical normalization within 6 months.

This case highlights the need for clinicians to be aware of this condition due to non-negligible differences between HG and NAFLD, with the latter progressing to fibrosis, and ultimately cirrhosis and hepatocarcinoma. On the opposite, HG is considered a benign condition, associated with an excellent prognosis that can be reversible after adequate metabolic control. Liver biopsy remains the gold standard method for HG diagnosis since it can distinguish it from NAFLD.

Growth and development in type 1 diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The purpose of this review is to summarize the current literature on the subject of linear growth in children and adolescents with or at risk for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

RECENT FINDINGS

Poor glycemic control in T1DM is associated with growth hormone resistance, and improving glycemic control can improve linear growth. Newer reports suggest that the increasingly popular very low carbohydrate diets, may reduce linear growth velocity.

SUMMARY

Linear growth during childhood is a complex process regulated influenced by genetic, hormonal, nutritional and environmental factors. Linear growth may be impaired in children with T1DM, correlating with poor metabolic control; an extreme example is Mauriac syndrome. This decrement in linear growth appears to be driven in part by a reduction in growth hormone responsiveness, leading to low insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels. Improving glycemic control can lead to improved IGF-1 levels and linear growth. Other factors associated with poor linear growth in T1DM include celiac disease and dietary alterations, with early reports suggesting that very low carbohydrate diets, if not carefully managed, may increase risk of attenuated linear growth. This review examines the latest data regarding the associations between T1DM and linear growth in children.

Insulin overdose complicated by treatment‐induced acute hepatic steatosis in a nondiabetic patient

Background

There are few reports of dextrose‐associated hepatic steatosis during insulin overdose treatment. Reports in nondiabetic patients are extremely rare. There is inadequate knowledge about the clinical course and treatment.

Case Presentation

A 37‐year‐old previously healthy, nondiabetic man self‐administered 5,925 IU of insulin. On admission, his liver function tests were normal. However, following continued dextrose treatment, they increased, and he was diagnosed with hepatic steatosis. The liver function tests improved with decreasing dextrose dosage, and he was asymptomatic on discharge.

Conclusion

Acute hepatic steatosis may occur in nondiabetic and diabetic patients during treatment requiring large doses of dextrose infusion, such as for an insulin overdose. In addition, the degree of liver damage might also be related to the dextrose dose. Therefore, careful glycemic control and minimization of the dextrose dosage are recommended for diabetic and nondiabetic patients.

Insulin degludec and glutamine dipeptide modify glucose homeostasis and liver metabolism in diabetic mice undergoing insulin-induced hypoglycemia

This study investigated whether a 30-day co-treatment with 1 g/kg glutamine dipeptide (GdiP) and 1 U/kg regular (rapid acting) or 5 U/kg degludec (long acting) insulins modifies glucose homeostasis and liver metabolism of alloxan-induced type 1 diabetic (T1D) male Swiss mice undergoing insulin-induced hypoglycemia (IIH). Glycemic curves were measured in fasted mice after IIH with 1 U/kg regular insulin. One hour after IIH, the lipid profile and AST and ALT activities were assayed in the serum. Morphometric analysis was assessed in the liver sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin and glycolysis, glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis and ureagenesis were evaluated in perfused livers. T1D mice receiving GdiP or the insulins had a smaller blood glucose drop at 60 minutes after IIH, which was not sustained during the subsequent period up to 300 minutes. The 30-day treatment of T1D mice with insulin degludec, but not with regular insulin, improved fasting glycemia, body weight gain and serum activity of AST and ALT. Treatments with insulin degludec, GdiP and insulin degludec + GdiP decreased the liver capacity in synthesizing glucose from alanine. GdiP, in combination with both insulins, was associated with increases in the serum triglycerides and, in addition, regular insulin and GdiP increased AST and ALT activities, which could be the consequence of hepatic glycogen overload. GdiP and the insulins improved the IIH, although to a small extent. Caution is recommended, however, with respect to the use of GdiP because of its increasing effects on serum triglycerides and AST plus ALT activities.

Acute Hepatitis due to Hepatic Glycogenosis After Insulin Overdose and Oral Glucose Administration in an Adolescent

Background

Hepatic glycogenosis (HG) has been reported after intravenous (IV) dextrose administration to treat insulin overdose. We describe a case of HG in a patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) due to insulin overdose treated with oral glucose administration.

Case Presentation

An adolescent boy with T1DM on a basal bolus insulin regimen presented with abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, and hypoglycemia of a few hours. His glucose was 71 mg/dL, aspartate transaminase (AST) 119 U/L, and alanine transaminase (ALT) 65 U/L. Hypoglycemia was treated with juice, and 12 hours later AST and ALT were 979 U/L and 700 U/L, respectively. Workup for infectious, autoimmune, metabolic, and toxic causes of hepatitis was negative. The transaminases improved by the next day and normalized within 3 weeks. Two weeks after discharge the patient returned with hypoglycemia, nausea, and right-sided abdominal pain of 13 hours. Hypoglycemia persisted despite multiple courses of glucose tablets and juice. Laboratory studies showed glucose of 58 mg/dL, AST of 776 U/L, ALT of 496 U/L, negative toxicology studies, and normal abdominal ultrasound. His serum insulin level was 249.7 mU/L and, C-peptide was less than 0.1 ng/mL, consistent with insulin overdose. He received IV fluids with dextrose, and insulin was held. Transaminases improved by the following day. Repeat serum insulin while on home regimen was normal.

Conclusion

Along with other diagnoses, HG should be considered in patients treated with insulin who present with hypoglycemia and acute hepatitis. HG can occur in cases of insulin overdose treated with repeated oral glucose administration.

Liver chemistries in glycogenic hepatopathy associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and pooled analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Glycogenic hepatopathy (GH) in type 1 diabetes-mellitus (T1DM) is characterized by hepatomegaly and perturbations of liver chemistries (LC) that have not been well studied. Furthermore, misdiagnosis with other hepatic complications of T1DM, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, has been described. We perform a systematic review of biopsy-proven GH reports in T1DM patients to identify LC patterns.

METHODS

A systematic review identified reports of biopsy-proven GH in patients with T1DM. We excluded GH with other liver diseases, Mauriac syndrome, or GH without T1DM. Two reviewers screened and extracted studies and assessed their methodological quality. LC elevation magnitude, AST-to-ALT ratio, R-ratio to designate hepatocellular, cholestatic or mixed pattern of hepatic injury, and evolution of transaminases after glycemic control were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 192 patients were included, with median age of 20 years, 73% adults, 66% females, median duration of T1DM before diagnosis 10 years, median adult body mass index 21 kg/m² , median HbA1c 12%, at least one episode of diabetic ketoacidosis 70%, and hepatomegaly 92%. ALT and AST showed moderate-to-severe elevation in 78% and 76%, respectively, AST/ALT >1 in 71% and hepatocellular to mixed pattern of hepatic injury in 81%. Transaminase improvement with glycemic control was the rule, regardless of other factors in multilinear regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

GH tends to have AST-predominant elevation with a median of 13 times the upper normal limit and R-ratio >2, which may distinguish it from other etiologies of AST-predominant LC elevation, and in the appropriate clinical context, may obviate invasive tests.

Image of the month: Mauriac variant: a rare complication of poorly controlled diabetes

We present a case of Mauriac syndrome in a young woman with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus. Liver complications are well known in the context of type 2 diabetes mellitus, it is associated metabolic complications and with the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease spectrum. This case brings to light a less well-known liver complication associated with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Persistent lactic acidosis in the Mauriac syndrome in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Mauriac syndrome is an uncommon clinical condition arising in the setting of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus. Clinical features include hepatomegaly and liver abnormalities indistinguishable from nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Early diagnosis and management are essential, as Mauriac syndrome is reversible.

Liver disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus: A link between glycemic control and hepatopathy

AIM

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of liver disease in children and adolescents with type-1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) by detection of elevated liver transaminases, confirmed by fibroscan and ultrasound. The secondary objective was to assess the effect of glycemic control on improvement of liver functions.

METHODS

One hundred and seven children and adolescents with T1DM were investigated by liver transaminases, mean HbA1c and pelviabdominal ultrasound while fibroscan was done for those with elevated liver transaminases only. Patients with elevated liver enzymes were reassessed after one year.

RESULTS

Only nine (8.4%) of the studied patients have exhibited liver dysfunction in the form of elevated liver transaminases with median ALT 140 U/L and AST 191 U/L and hepatomegaly by ultrasound; The HbA1c (median = 10.8%) and fibroscan abnormalities (median fibrosis score 1) were significantly higher in patients with elevated liver transaminases (p < 0.001). Adequate glycemic control resulted in a significant decrease in liver transaminases (median ALT = 25 U/L and AST = 29 U/L), fibroscan fibrosis score (median = 0) and HbA1c (median = 9%) (p = 0.003), (p = 0.01) and (p = 0.003) respectively.

CONCLUSION

Adequate glycemic control was associated with improvement of liver disease in children and adolescents with diabetes.

Diabetic‑induced alterations in hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism: The role of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus (Review)

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a growing health concern in society. Type 1 and type 2 DM are the two main types of diabetes; both types are chronic diseases that affect glucose metabolism in the body and the impaired regulation of glucose and lipid metabolism promotes the development and progression of DM. During the physiological metabolism process, the liver serves a unique role in glucose and lipid metabolism. The present article aimed to review the association between DM and glucose metabolism in the liver and discuss the changes of the following hepatic glucose fluxes: Gluconeogenesis, glucose/glucose 6-phosphate cycling, glycogenolysis, glycogenesis and the pentose phosphate pathway. Moreover, the incidence of fatty liver in DM was also investigated.

Elevated Lactic Acid During Ketoacidosis: Pathophysiology and Management

Lactic acidosis results from an acid-base balance disorder of the body due to an excess of lactic acid. It is frequently found in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care. The most common cause is type A, found in pathologies such as cardiogenic, septic and hypovolemic shock, trauma and severe hypoxemia. The type B is less common and arises without evidence of tissue hypoperfusion or shock. Divers etiologies have been described for this type of hyperlactatemia: Grand Mal seizures, liver failure, hematologic malignancies, congenital enzyme deficiencies, thiamine deficiencies and diabetes mellitus and also alcohol abuse, which may induce a lactic acid under-use or an increased production. The authors describe a rare complication of type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), leading to a major and persistent expression of a type B lactic acidosis during ketoacidosis.

Mauriac Syndrome: A Rare Hepatic Glycogenosis in Poorly Controlled Type 1 Diabetes

Background

Hepatic glycogenosis (HG) is a complication of poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), characterized by glycogen accumulation in hepatocytes. Mauriac syndrome (MS) is a glycogenic hepatopathy, initially described in 1930, characterized by growth failure, delayed puberty, cushingoid appearance, hepatomegaly with abnormal liver enzymes, and hypercholesterolemia. HG is a condition with good prognosis and fast resolution after adequate glycemic control (although it has potential for relapse), with no case of evolution to end-stage liver disease described.

Case

We describe a 26-year-old female, with T1DM complicated by severe retinopathy. The patient maintained poor glycemic control since childhood, presenting glycated hemoglobin persistently higher than 10% and recurrent episodes of ketoacidosis. In adolescence, she developed hepatomegaly and fluctuating elevation of aminotransferases and triglycerides. A small, nonrepresentative hepatic biopsy suggested macrovacuolar steatosis and mild fibrosis. After 15 years of diabetes, the patient was referred for gastroenterology clinic due to chronic diarrhea and exuberant hepatomegaly. Laboratory showed persistent elevation of aminotransferases and triglycerides. Bilirubin, iron metabolism, and coagulation were normal; viral serologies and autoimmune study were negative. Upper endoscopy, ileocolonoscopy, and enteroscopy presented no lesions. Abdominal magnetic resonance imaging displayed massive hepatomegaly. Liver biopsy was repeated showing marked nuclear glycogenization, mild steatosis, and no fibrosis; electron microscopy revealed very large deposits of glycogen and pleomorphic mitochondria with an unusually dense matrix, described for the first time in this entity. The diagnosis of MS variant and diarrhea due to autonomic neuropathy were assumed.

Conclusion

Currently, HG is a well-recognized disease that occurs at any age and can be present without the full spectrum of features initially described for MS. In the era of insulin therapy, this entity represents a rare complication, caused by low therapeutic compliance.

Mauriac Syndrome: A Rare Complication of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Mauriac syndrome, first described in 1930, is typically diagnosed in young patients with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus and growth retardation, delayed puberty, Cushingoid features, hypercholesterolaemia and hepatomegaly. However, the sole presenting feature of Mauriac syndrome can be hepatic glycogenosis in both adults and children. The mainstay of treatment for hepatic glycogenosis is strict control of glucose levels, with an excellent prognosis with improved glycaemic control. The authors present the case of a 22-year-old female patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus and a history of poor glycaemic control who was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). She complained of episodes of right upper quadrant abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting for the last 2 months with worsening in the last 48 hours. Physical examination was remarkable for short stature and tenderness over the hepatic area with a mildly enlarged liver. The patient had elevated liver enzymes and persistent hyperlactacidaemia despite DKA resolution. Liver imaging suggested diffuse fat infiltration. The clinical suspicion of hepatic glycogenosis was confirmed by liver biopsy. After glycaemic control was improved, liver enzymes normalized and the episodes of abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting subsided.

LEARNING POINTS

Hepatic glycogenosis can be the sole presenting feature of Mauriac syndrome.Hepatic glycogenosis is an under-recognized cause of abdominal pain in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.Hepatic glycogenosis may be confused with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with important therapeutic implications and a distinct prognosis.The mainstay of treatment for hepatic glycogenosis is strict glycaemic control with an excellent prognosis when achieved.

Hepatomegaly and type 1 diabetes: a clinical case of Mauriac's syndrome

Background

Hepatic glycogenosis is characterized by excessive glycogen accumulation in hepatocytes and represents a complication of poor controlled type 1 diabetes. It can be caused by excessive insulin doses or recurrent ketoacidosis episodes. Mauriac’s syndrome is a rare disease, which includes short stature, growth maturation delay, dyslipidemia, moon facies, protuberant abdomen, hepatomegaly with transaminase elevation. It has become even less common after the emergence of advances on diabetes treatment, but still exists. Recent reports described glycogenosis without the full spectrum of Mauriac’s syndrome in both adults and children with brittle diabetes. Clinical, laboratory and histological abnormalities are reversible with appropriate glycemic control.

Case presentation

We hereby report a case of 11-year-old male who presented with hepatic glycogenosis mimicking Mauriac’s syndrome. The patient was admitted at our Pediatric Diabetes Clinic for marked hepatomegaly, short stature and for the poor metabolic control. Blood investigations and liver tests excluded most of major causes of hepatopathy. A liver biopsy allowed us to make diagnosis of hepatic glycogenosis. To control hyperglycaemia, initially we titrated daily insulin dosage, and then intravenous insulin treatment was practiced with the consequent normalization of liver enzymes.

Conclusion

Mauriac’s syndrome should be considered in subjects with brittle type 1 diabetes and hepatomegaly.

Localization of Glucose Transporter 10 to Hair Cells' Cuticular Plate in the Mouse Inner Ear

This study aimed to investigate the localization pattern of glucose transporters (Gluts) in mouse cochlea. Genome-wide gene expression analysis using CodeLink™ bioarrays indicated that Glut1 and Glut10 were highly expressed (~10-fold) in mouse cochlea compared with the other members of glucose transporters (Glut2-6, Glut8, and Glut9). Semiquantitative RT-PCR and western blotting confirmed that Glut10 expression in mouse cochlea was high throughout the embryogenesis and postnatal development. Immunofluorescent staining showed that Glut10 protein was localized in the cuticular plate of the outer and inner cochlear hair cells and in the ampullary crest of the vestibular system. Based on these results, it was supposed that Glut10 may contribute to glucose transport from the endolymph to the hair cells across the cuticular plate.

Clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma: origin, metabolic traits and fate of glycogenotic clear and ground glass cells

Clear cell hepatocellular carcinoma (CCHCC) has hitherto been considered an uncommon, highly differentiated variant of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a relatively favorable prognosis. CCHCC is composed of mixtures of clear and/or acidophilic ground glass hepatocytes with excessive glycogen and/or fat and shares histology, clinical features and etiology with common HCCs. Studies in animal models of chemical, hormonal and viral hepatocarcinogenesis and observations in patients with chronic liver diseases prone to develop HCC have shown that the majority of HCCs are preceded by, or associated with, focal or diffuse excessive storage of glycogen (glycogenosis) which later may be replaced by fat (lipidosis/steatosis). In ground glass cells, the glycogenosis is accompanied by proliferation of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which is closely related to glycogen particles and frequently harbors the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). From the findings in animal models a sequence of changes has been established, commencing with preneoplastic glycogenotic liver lesions, often containing ground glass cells, and progressing to glycogen-poor neoplasms via various intermediate stages, including glycogenotic/lipidotic clear cell foci, clear cell hepatocellular adenomas (CCHCA) rich in glycogen and/or fat, and CCHCC. A similar process seems to take place in humans, with clear cells frequently persisting in CCHCC and steatohepatitic HCC, which presumably represent intermediate stages in the development rather than particular variants of HCC. During the progression of the preneoplastic lesions, the clear and ground glass cells transform into cells characteristic of common HCC. The sequential cellular changes are associated with metabolic aberrations, which start with an activation of the insulin signaling cascade resulting in pre-neoplastic hepatic glycogenosis. The molecular and metabolic changes underlying the glycogenosis/lipidosis are apparently responsible for the dramatic metabolic shift from gluconeogenesis to the pentose phosphate pathway and Warburg-type glycolysis, which provide precursors and energy for an ever increasing cell proliferation during progression.

Focal Hepatic Glycogenosis in a Patient With Uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus Type 1

Hepatomegaly and elevated liver enzymes in patients with diabetes are commonly associated with fatty liver disease. However, physicians often forget about another intrinsic substance that can cause a similar clinical picture-glycogen. Liver stores approximately one third of the total body glycogen and is responsible for blood glucose homeostasis. Excessive hepatocellular glycogen accumulation occurs not only in congenital glycogen storage diseases, but also in acquired conditions associated with hyperglycemic-hyperinsulinemic states such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, high-dose corticosteroid use, and dumping syndrome. All reported cases of acquired abnormal glycogen deposition described a diffuse form of hepatic glycogenosis with the entire liver involved in the accumulating process. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of abnormal focal glycogen deposition in a patient with diabetes mellitus type 1 with imaging and pathologic correlation. Awareness of the imaging appearance of focal glycogen deposition can help to distinguish it from other pathologic conditions.

Glycogenic hepatopathy, an underdiagnosed cause of relapsing hepatitis in uncontrolled type 1 diabetes mellitus

Glycogenic hepatopathy is a rare condition that causes significant hepatomegaly and elevated liver enzyme levels in uncontrolled type 1 diabetic patients. It develops due to excessive accumulation of glycogen in the hepatocytes. It is typically reversible with good glycemic control and rarely progresses to mild fibrosis, but not cirrhosis.

Glutamine dipeptide and cortisol change the liver glucose metabolism and reduce the severity of insulin-induced hypoglycaemia in untreated T1DM Swiss mice

CONTEXT

Glutamine is conditionally essential in type 1 diabetes mellitus, and might be useful to counteract hypoglycaemia.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the systemic and hepatic effects of counter-regulatory hormones and glutamine dipeptide (GDP) during hypoglycemic episodes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Diabetic Swiss mice made hypoglycaemic by insulin injection (1 U/kg) were given counter-regulatory hormones and/or GDP. Sixty minutes later, liver histology, liver glucose metabolism and plasma were assessed.

RESULTS

Combined, cortisol and GDP improved the hypoglycemic profile. During liver perfusion, gluconeogenesis was possibly the major pathway leading to glucose release. Perfusion with gluconeogenic precursors after glycogen depletion by adrenaline increased liver glucose and urea release.

DISCUSSION

The less severe hypoglycaemia could result from cortisol stimulating periportal gluconeogenesis and GDP inhibiting pericentral glycogenolysis, both favouring liver glucose release.

CONCLUSIONS

At least some benefits of GDP and cortisol during hypoglycaemia came from their hepatic actions, and their use in diabetic patients should be explored.

[Insulin edema in hepatic glycogenosis]

INTRODUCTION

Hepatic glycogenosis is a rare syndrome, which includes poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, hepatomegaly, delayed puberty, and growth delay. Insulin edema is sometimes associated.

CASE REPORT

An 18-year-old woman presented with diffuse edema, hepatomegaly, amenorrhea, uncontrolled diabetes, and elevated transaminases and cholestasis. Hepatic ultrasonography and abdominal computed tomographic scan confirmed the hepatomegaly. The liver biopsy showed a massive glycogenosis and the diagnosis of hepatic glycogenosis was confirmed. Too large doses of insulin were responsible of diffuse edema. Diabetes equilibration and diminution of insulin intakes allow correction of this disorder.

CONCLUSION

Excess of insulin can lead to excessive hepatic glycogen storage by activation of glycogenosis enzymes. Biological manifestations consist on elevated liver enzymes and hyperlactatemia. There is a link between administration of high dose of insulin and edema. Hepatic glycogenosis should be suspected when diabetes is uncontrolled and be considered as a differential diagnosis of steatosis. It may be associated and revealed by insulin edema directly related to excessive insulin intakes.

A Rare Case of Persistent Lactic Acidosis in the ICU: Glycogenic Hepatopathy and Mauriac Syndrome

Mauriac syndrome is a rare disorder that can present with the single feature of glycogenic hepatopathy in children and adults with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. An often underrecognized finding of glycogenic hepatopathy is lactic acidosis and hyperlactatemia. Primary treatment of glycogenic hepatopathy is improved long-term blood glucose control. Resolution of symptoms and hepatomegaly will occur with improvement in hemoglobin A1C. We present here a case of a young adult female presenting to the intensive care unit with Mauriac syndrome. This case demonstrates exacerbation of lactic acidosis in a patient with glycogenic hepatopathy treated for diabetic ketoacidosis with high dose insulin and dextrose.

Hyperketonemia and ketosis increase the risk of complications in type 1 diabetes

Diets that boost ketone production are increasingly used for treating several neurological disorders. Elevation in ketones in most cases is considered favorable, as they provide energy and are efficient in fueling the body's energy needs. Despite all the benefits from ketones, the above normal elevation in the concentration of ketones in the circulation tend to illicit various pathological complications by activating injurious pathways leading to cellular damage. Recent literature demonstrates a plausible link between elevated levels of circulating ketones and oxidative stress, linking hyperketonemia to innumerable morbid conditions. Ketone bodies are produced by the oxidation of fatty acids in the liver as a source of alternative energy that generally occurs in glucose limiting conditions. Regulation of ketogenesis and ketolysis plays an important role in dictating ketone concentrations in the blood. Hyperketonemia is a condition with elevated blood levels of acetoacetate, 3-β-hydroxybutyrate, and acetone. Several physiological and pathological triggers, such as fasting, ketogenic diet, and diabetes cause an accumulation and elevation of circulating ketones. Complications of the brain, kidney, liver, and microvasculature were found to be elevated in diabetic patients who had elevated ketones compared to those diabetics with normal ketone levels. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which hyperketonemia and ketoacidosis cause an increase in redox imbalance and thereby increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients.