The value of signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein 1 and oxidative stress parameters in the diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.

Objectives: This study investigated the diagnostic value of signal peptide-CUB-EGF domain-containing protein 1 (SCUBE-1) and other oxidative stress parameters in the early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia, which has high mortality and morbidity if not identified and treated in the early period.

Methods: Thirty-six female Sprague-Dawley rats were used in this randomized, controlled study. Rats were divided into six groups: three control groups (Groups I, III, and V) and three ischemia groups (Groups II, IV, and VI). In the control groups, blood and tissue specimens were sampled at 30 minutes (Group I), 2 hours (Group III), and 6 hours (Group V), following a simple laparotomy. In the ischemia groups, the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) was ligated following laparotomy, and blood and tissue samples were sampled at 30 minutes (Group II), 2 hours (Group IV), and 6 hours (Group VI).

Results: When comparing the ischemia and control groups, the differences in SCUBE-1, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant status (TAS) levels in the 30-minute period were not significant (p > 0.05); at 2 hours, SCUBE-1 levels rose rapidly, and although the desired level of significance could not be obtained with Bonferroni correction, the level was significantly higher compared to the control group at the same time interval (for SCUBE-1, Group III vs. Group IV, p = 0.006). In these periods (30 minutes and 2 hours), only total oxidative status (TOS) and oxidative stress index (OSI) values were significantly higher in the ischemia group compared to the control group (for both, p = 0.004). A pronounced rise in SCUBE-1 levels was determined with 6-hour ischemia (for SCUBE-1, Group V vs. Group VI, p = 0.004). The changes in MDA, TAS, TOS, and OSI levels were not significant (p = 0.025, p = 0.321, p = 0.006, and p = 0.037, respectively).

Conclusions: SCUBE-1 levels have the potential to be used as a marker of early period injury in acute mesenteric ischemia, although it is impossible to state explicitly that they can be used for early diagnosis. The same can be said for plasma MDA and TAS levels. The authors believe that TOS and OSI levels, however, can be used in early diagnosis and as an injury marker. Moreover, OSI also exhibits a medium-strong correlation with histopathologic injury.