The importance of serum intestinal fatty acid-binding protein for the early diagnosis of acute mesenteric ischemia.

Background: Acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI), although relatively rare, is an emergency condition with high mortality rates (60-80%) attributed to lack of early diagnosis. The aim of this experimental study was to observe the changes in serum intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP) levels over time in the AMI model by ligating superior mesenteric artery (SMA) in rats and to compare with the serum I-FABP levels of the rats in the control group.

Methods: Twenty rats were randomly allocated into two groups as control and ischemia group. The basal serum I-FABP levels were determined. SMA was isolated by laparotomy in all animals. In the ischemia group, SMA was ligated and intestinal ischemia was formed. Blood was taken from each rat in both groups at 30th, 60th, and 90th min to determine the serum I-FABP levels. The blood results were compared between two groups and were also compared by time in each group.

Results: In the ischemia group, serum I-FABP levels were significantly higher than the control group at post-operative 30th, 60th, and 90th min (p<0.01). In comparison with pre-operative serum I-FABP levels, remarkable increases were observed statistically at post-operative 30th, 60th, and 90th min in the ischemia group (p<0.01). In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference within the serum I-FABP levels over time in the control group. The increases of serum I-FABP levels in the ischemia group were directly correlated with the time of ischemia.

Conclusion: Serum I-FABP levels have increased significantly in the intestinal ischemia and these values have risen progressively over time. Serum I-FABP may be a useful and promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of AMI.