Application of arginine stimulation test in evaluating function of pancreatic islet beta cell / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the value of intravenous arginine stimulation test (AST) in evaluating function of pancreatic islet beta cell response in patients of diabetes mellitus. Methods Twentyone patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1, DM1 group) and 113 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2, DM2 group) were recruited in this study. DM2 patients were divided into two sub-groups, DM2a group (duration of no more than 1 year, 58 patients) and DM2b group (more than 1 year, 55 patients). The serum levels of C-peptide (CP) were determined at fasting and 2,3,4,5 minutes after intravenous injection of 5 g arginine. Results In DM1 group, the level of CP after injection of arginine was. similar to the fasting level (P> 0.05 ). In DM2 group, the peak level of CP appeared at 3th minute (CP3) during AST, and was significantly higher than fasting CP level(P < 0.01 ). The level of fasting and arginine-stimulated CP in DM2a group was significantly higher than that in DM2b group, and the level of fasting and arginine-stimulated CP in DM2b group was significantly higher than that in DM1 group. The patients of DM1 group whose level of CP3 < 600 pmol/L all needed insulin injection to control hyperglycemia, and the coincident rate was 100.0%.In DM2 group, there were 91 patients whose CP3 ≥600 pmol/L, among which 85 patients could be well controlled with diet or oral hypoglycemic agents, and the coincidentrate was 93.4%; there were 22 patients whose CP3 < 600 pmol/L, among which 19 patients need insulin injection to control hyperglycemia, and the coincident rate was 86.4%. Conclusions AST is valuable in assessing the function of pancreatic islet beta cell in patients with diabetes mellitus. The level of CP3 ≥600 pmol/L can be considered as a reference in diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus.