Drug metabolism in diabetic subjects with fatty livers.

The effect of fatty degeneration of liver parenchyma on drug metabolism was investigated in 21 obese non‐insulin‐dependent diabetic subjects by measuring plasma antipyrine kinetics, hepatic cytochrome P‐450, liver size and the extent of fatty infiltration. The hepatic drug metabolising capacity, as measured by total antipyrine clearance and the estimated total amount of cytochrome P‐450, was at the same level as in non‐diabetic control subjects with normal livers. Relative antipyrine clearance (per unit weight of liver) and cytochrome P‐450 concentrations were significantly lower in the diabetics than in controls. The extent of fatty infiltration correlated poorly with the indices of drug metabolism. In non‐insulin‐dependent diabetics, slight to moderate hepatic fatty infiltration, without more serious structural distortion interfering with hepatic blood flow or hepatocellular function, seems to have only a minor influence on drug metabolism.

DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2125.1984.tb02561.x

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