D-Dimer Levels During Progressive Intestinal Ischaemia: An Experimental Study in Rats

Abstract

Objective: Acute mesenteric artery occlusion remains a serious problem in surgical clinics. D-dimer may be a potential marker for the early diagnosis of this disease. We evaluated the association between progressive intestinal ischaemia and plasma D-dimer levels in a rat model. Material and Methods: Male Wistar albino rats (n= 40) were randomised into the following groups (n = 10/group): sham-operated group (A); 1-hour occlusion of the anterior mesenteric artery group (B); 3-hour occlusion group (C); and 6-hour occlusion group (D). Intra-cardiac blood samples (1.8 mL each) were obtained for the D-dimer test, and the small intestines were resected for histopathological evaluation at the end of the experiment. Results: The D-dimer levels of the four groups were 63.53 ± 10.90, 58.49 ± 8.88, 60.84 ± 11.90, and 63.26 ± 9.74 μg/L respectively. No statistically significant difference in plasma D-dimer levels was observed among groups. However, histopathological examination revealed ischaemia in group B, partial necrosis in group C, and total necrosis in group D. Conclusion: No association was found between progressive intestinal ischaemia and plasma D-dimer levels in this rat model. Copyright © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri.