Plasma levels of glucagon-like polypeptides in patients with esophagoplasty.

Seven patients with interposition of a jejunal tract between the esophagus and stomach or duodenum (EP group) and ten healthy normal volunteers have been submitted to an oral glucose load (OGTT) to clarify the significance of glucagon-like polypeptides (GLI) induced by glucose in carbohydrate metabolism. Blood glucose (BG) and GLI plasma levels were significantly higher in the EP group than in the normal one (p less than 0.01), respectively 30, 60, 90 min for BG and during all the test for GLI. The fasting immunoreactive glucagon (IRG) plasma levels were significantly lower in patients than in normals (p less than 0.05) whereas a marked and significant increase was observed in the EP group (p less than 0.01) from 90 to 240 min. The precocious stimulation of jejunal mucosa and the rapid intestinal transit which occur in these patients may explain the elevated GLI (probably glicentin) plasma levels. The rise in IRG plasma levels might be due to the enzymatic transformation of glicentin. The role of these types of glucagon on carbohydrate metabolism is still to be fully clarified.