Central role of the β-cell in driving regression of diabetes after liver transplantation in cirrhotic patients

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common feature in cirrhotic individuals, due to the bidirectional relationship between impaired glucose metabolism and chronic liver disease [1]. On the one hand, type 2 DM is a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) [2] and, though not included in the most widely used prognostic tools [3], is a major predictor of adverse outcomes in cirrhotic individuals both before [4]and after [5] orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). On the other hand, certain aetiological agents of liver disease, including HCV and NAFLD, may cause β-cell dysfunction and/or insulin resistance, thus favouring development of DM even prior to cirrhosis onset [1].

Source: Journal of Hepatology - January 21, 2019 Category: Gastroenterology Authors: Valeria Grancini, Maddalena Trombetta, Maria Elena Lunati, Maria Linda Boselli, Stefano Gatti, Maria Francesca Donato, Eva Palmieri, Veronica Resi, Giuseppe Pugliese, Riccardo C. Bonadonna, Emanuela Orsi Source Type: research