Abstract
10 or 50 ug glucagon was added to the blood preserved with acid citrate and dextrose(ACD) used for exchange transfusion (ET) of Rh-affected infants. Both doses had similar effects causing greater hyperglycemia and insulin secretion than ACD blood alone. At the end of the ET the plasma glucagon in infants receiving ACD blood was 248 33pg/ml and did not change significantly in the next 60 min. Plasma glucagon levels in the two other groups were 1302 146 and 3975 327 pg/ml respectively and glucagon disappeared from the circulation at 13-15% per min. for 5-10 min and at 0.5-1.0 % per min thereafter. The range of glucose disappearance (Kt) in the hour following transfusion was similar in all groups being 0.4-2.1 % per min, but for a given Kt the infants receiving glucagon enriched blood had higher plasma glucose levels. The plasma glucose 60 min post-transfusion correlated closely and negatively with the Kt. It is concluded that glucagon protects against hypoglycemia in the first post-transfusion hour and that the plasma glucose level 60 min post-transfusion is a good guide to K.
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Milner, R., Chouksey, S. & Assan, R. GLUCAGON INFUSION IN ERYTHROBLASTOTIC INFANTS. Pediatr Res 8, 138 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197402000-00075
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197402000-00075