Plasma hepatic glutathione s‐transferase concentrations after insulin‐induced Hypoglycaemia in normal subjects and diabetic patients

Plasma glutathione S‐transferase basic isoenzyme (GST B1) concentrations have been measured by specific radioimmunoassay in Type 1 diabetic patients and in normal subjects, before and after controlled insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia, and in a further group of Type 1 diabetic patients in hypoglycaemic coma. The activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino‐transferase (AST), and gamma‐glutamyl transferase (γGT) were also measured. GST B1 concentrations were significantly increased 3 h after controlled insulin‐induced hypoglycaemia, both in the diabetic patients (p < 0.02) and in the normal group (p < 0.05), but the magnitude of the rise did not differ between these two groups. Four of the 9 patients presenting in hypoglycaemic coma had a GST B1 concentration above the reference range. ALT, AST, and γGT activities did not rise following hypoglycaemia in any of the groups. 1989 Diabetes UK