Serum intestinal fatty acid binding protein and phosphate levels in the diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia: an experimental study in rabbits

Background: Acute intestinal ischemia is a serious clinical disorder with mesenteric infarction, which has high mortality. It is important to establish a biochemical marker for the early diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia.

Objectives: The aim of this experimental study was to assess the changes in the serum levels of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) and phosphate by time using the acute intestinal ischemia model in rabbits.

Methods: In this study, 21 New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into three groups. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 1, 3, and 6 h in the control group. Blood samples were obtained at 0, 1, 3, and 6 h in the sham group after simple laparotomy. Blood samples were obtained at the same hours in the ischemia group after simple laparotomy and ligation of the superior mesenteric artery.

Results: There was no significant difference between the control, the sham, and the ischemia groups in terms of serum IFABP levels at any time (p > 0.05). Serum phosphate levels significantly increased in the ischemia group (p < 0.001). Studies on IFABP have begun emerging in the literature, and there is no standard approach for the technique to measure the IFABP level. No studies on IFABP were found in the literature on rabbits.

Conclusion: Based on our results, the role that IFABP levels play in the diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia is unclear at this time. Serum phosphate levels continued to rise as the duration of ischemia was prolonged. These findings support the suggestion that serum phosphate levels are valuable for the diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia.