title: Chronic intestinal ischemia and splanchnic blood-flow: reference values and correlation with body-composition.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the splanchnic blood flow and oxygen uptake in healthy-subjects and patients and to relate the findings to body-composition.
  
  
  METHODS
  The total splanchnic blood flow (SBF) and oxygen uptake (SO₂U) were measured in 20 healthy volunteers (10 women) and 29 patients with suspected chronic intestinal ischemia (15 women), age 40-85 years, prior to and after a standard meal. The method is based on the Fick principle using the continuous infusion of an indicator (99mTechnetium-labelled mebrofenin) and catheterization of an artery and the hepatic vein. An angiography of the intestinal arteries was performed during the same investigation. A whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry scan was performed in healthy volunteers to determine body composition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Angiography revealed no atherosclerotic lesions in the intestinal arteries. The mean baseline SBF was 1087 mL/min (731-1390), and this value increased significantly to 1787 mL/min after the meal in healthy volunteers (P < 0.001). The baseline SBF in patients was 1080 mL/min, which increased to 1718 mL/min postprandially (P < 0.001). The baseline SBF was independent of age, sex, lean body mass and percentage of body fat. The mean meal-induced increase in SBF was equal to 282 mL/min + 5.4 mL/min × bodyweight, (P = 0.025). The SO₂U in healthy volunteers and patients was 50.7 mL/min and 48.0 mL/min, respectively, and these values increased to 77.5 mL/min and 75 mL/min postprandially, respectively. Both baseline and postprandial SO₂U were directly related to lean body mass. Age and sex exerted no impact on SO₂U.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A direct correlation between body weight and the postprandial increase in SBF was observed. The effect of body weight should be considered in the diagnosis of chronic intestinal ischemia.
authors: Department of Clinical Physiology, Viborg Regional Hospital, 8800 Viborg, Denmark. helle.damgaard@viborg.rm.dk
authors: Helle Damgaard
authors: HD
authors: Zacho
authors: Jens Henrik
authors: JH
authors: Henriksen
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Abrahamsen
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D001823:Body Composition; D001835:Body Weight; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005998:Glycine; D006801:Humans; D007098:Imino Acids; D007511:Ischemia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D065666:Mesenteric Ischemia; D008641:Mesenteric Vascular Occlusion / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D019518:Postprandial Period; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012016:Reference Values; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D007098:Imino Acids; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; C034837:technetium Tc 99m mebrofenin; D005998:Glycine
keywords: Body composition; Mesenteric vascular occlusion; Middle aged; Postprandial period; Splanchnic circulation