Correlation between blood pressure and plasma insulin in acromegaly.

The aims of this study were to determine the possible role of hyperinsulinaemia in the increase in blood pressure in acromegalic patients.,After an overnight fast, blood samples were obtained at 0. 30, 60, 120 and 180 min after 75 g glucose ingestion, and plasma growth hormone (GH) and plasma insulin (IRI) were measured by radioimmunoassay. The blood pressure was measured at 10.00 hours for 3 days in a supine position.,Nineteen (nine women and 10 men) untreated acromegalic patients, aged 25-69 years.,There were no significant correlations between mean blood pressure (MBP; diastolic+one-third pulse pressure) and basal GH, sum of plasma GH at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min or basal IRI. However, significant correlation was observed between MBP and IRI at 120 min (r = 0.57, P < 0.02) or sum of plasma IRI at 0, 30, 60, 120 and 180 min) (r = 0.58, P < 0.02).,We conclude that hyperinsulinaemia may be involved in an increase in blood pressure in active acromegalics.