Insulin Suppression in Children with Congestive Heart Failure.

Children in congestive heart failure have impaired oral glucose tolerance tests. Suppression of insulin release appears to serve as a contributing mechanism for this abnormality in that an inverse relationship is observed between the severity of the congestive heart failure and the insulin response to hyperglycemia. Preliminary results also indicate a significant increase in serum amino acid levels in these children. These findings suggest that the suppression of insulin release is the cause for inefficient utilization of carbohydrates and that this state of catabolism superimposed on a deficient diet encountered in these infants may contribute to their growth retardation.