Measuring platelet aggregation to estimate small intestinal ischemia-reperfusion injury.
BACKGROUND
The success of intestinal transplantation is affected by the extreme susceptibility of the small bowel to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Currently, there is no quick, convenient method to estimate the extent of small bowel I/R injury. Although histological evaluation is reliable and accurate, it takes too long to allow favorable intervention in I/R injury. I/R causes the production of arachidonic acid products, oxygen free radicals, cytokines, and nitric oxide, which affect platelet function.


OBJECTIVE
This study determined whether measuring platelet aggregation is useful for evaluating small bowel I/R injury.


METHODS
Eighteen mongrel dogs were divided into three groups. In group A both the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and vein (SMV) were occluded for 120 min. In group B the SMA was occluded for 60 min. Group C underwent a sham operation. Platelet aggregation was measured using a whole blood aggregometer (WBA analyzer), which readily handles small samples. Histological examination was performed. The correlation between platelet aggregation and histology was analyzed.


RESULTS
Platelet aggregation was similar in all groups before reperfusion. After reperfusion, platelet aggregation was significantly lower in group A than in groups B and C (P < 0.05), and mucosal damage was most severe in group A (P < 0.05). After 1 and 3 h of reperfusion, there was a significant negative correlation between platelet aggregation and histological damage.


CONCLUSIONS
Measuring platelet aggregation is rapid, easy, and useful for evaluating small bowel I/R injury.
Arakawa
Kazuhisa
K
Second Department of Surgery, Gunma University School of Medicine, Maebashi, Gunma, Japan.
Takeyoshi
Izumi
I
Muraoka
Masato
M
Matsumoto
Koshi
K
Morishita
Yasuo
Y
D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D010974:Platelet Aggregation; D010976:Platelet Count; D015427:Reperfusion Injury / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*