The Assessment of Insulin, Glucose and Lipids in Ischemic Thrombotic Cerebrovascular Disease

Abstract

Sixty-one male patients with ischemic thrombotic cerebrovascular disease (ITCVD) and 61 age-matched controls were studied to determine the interrelationships between the primary risk factors of ITCVD. Impaired carbohydrate metabolism in ITCVD was reflected in the significantly greater number of abnormal oral glucose tolerance tests (GTT) and type IV lipoprotein abnormalities when compared to controls. Elevated uric acid and triglyceride levels also were observed in ITCVD. Glucose and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) response curves in ITCVD were elevated and exhibited delayed peaks despite the normal or abnormal classification of GTT, indicating that insulin is ineffective in restoring glucose to normal levels. In the ITCVD and control groups with abnormal GTT the free fatty acid (FFA) levels were elevated at fasting and lacked the characteristic rebound at two hours observed in subjects with normal GTT, supporting the theory of a glucose-FFA cycle and its role in carbohydrate disturbances.