Effect of endogenous organic hyperinsulinaemia on blood pressure and serum triglycerides.

Hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance have been hypothesized to be the common pathophysiological factor of hypertension, NIDDM and obesity. To evaluate the possible role of hyperinsulinaemia and insulin resistance on hypertension, we studied a group of 37 patients with insulinoma who were admitted to our department in the period from 1966 to 1990. We recorded blood pressure and assayed blood glucose, plasma insulin, plasma triglycerides and serum uric acid levels, before and after surgery, in these patients and in a 37-subject control group. No significant increase in blood pressure and triglyceride plasma levels was recorded in the chronic hyperinsulinaemic hypoglycaemic patients, suggesting the lack of a direct role of hyperinsulinaemia on hypertension.