Glucagon secretion in diabetic patients with idiopathic haemochromatosis.

The aim of the present investigation was to determine in patients with idiopathic haemochromatosis whether diabetes is of the primary type or secondary to pancreatic injury due to iron deposition. For this purpose, plasma glucagon concentrations were determined following arginine infusion or an oral glucose load in eight patients with diabetes and idiopathic haemochromatosis. The enhanced glucagon response to arginine and the nonsuppressibility of glucagon secretion by oral glucose found in these patients were similar to the results found in the same tests performed in our previous series of patients with "idiopathic" diabetes and at variance with those reported by others in patients with chronic pancreatitis.