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Distribution of Plasma Glucagon Immunoreactivity in a Patient with Suspected Glucagonoma

Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Universidad Autónoma Madrid, Spain The University of Nebraska Medical Center Nebraska The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School Dallas, Texas

Reprints: Dr. Isabel Valverde, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Avda. Reyes Catolicos 2, Madrid 3, Spain.

Gel filtration of plasma from a patient with a clinical syndrome of glucagonoma and a total plasma glucagon level of 2600 pg/ml, revealed the four glucagon immunoreactive fractions found in normal subjects.

The total hyperglucagonemia observed was due to high levels of true glucagon and proglucagon moieties. The so-called "big plasma glucagon" (BPG) measured 190 pg/ml (normal average 113 ± 79 pg/ml, Mean ± SD, N = 10); the large glucagon immunoreactivity, LGI (9000 mol wt), measured 625 pg/ml (normal average 11 ± 16 pg/ml); the true glucagon accounted for 1435 pg/ml (normal average 31 ± 29 pg/ml); and the small glucagon immunoreactive fraction (2000 mol wt) measured 35 pg/ml (normal average 26 ± 18 pg/ml). The high levels of LGI, considered a candidate for proglucagon, may reflect the increased secretory activity of the tumor.

Presented at the 11th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes, September 4, 1975, Munich, Federal Republic of Germany.

Received August 25, 1975.

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