title: Can Intestinal Fatty Acid Binding Protein (I-FABP) Be A Marker in the Diagnosis of Abdominal Pathology?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Biochemical markers play an important role in the early diagnosis of abdominal pain. This study aimed to investigate the diagnostic value of intestinal type fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP) in patients with abdominal pathology.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective and descriptive study was performed at the University Hospital Emergency Department. Serum I-FABP levels of patients presenting with acute abdominal pain were measured at time of admission and were compared with those of healthy individuals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean I-FABP level of the 171 patients enrolled in this study was 170.1±543.4 pg/ml, while that of a healthy control group was 61.4±47.4 pg/ml. Although I-FABP levels were higher in the patient group, this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). However, I-FABP levels of patients with mesenteric ischemia and intra-abdominal mass were significantly higher than those of healthy individuals (p≤0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  I-FABP levels that are evaluated at time of admission in patients presenting with abdominal pain to the emergency department are significantly higher in patients with mesenteric ischemia and intra-abdominal mass than are those of healthy individuals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, İstanbul.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon.
authors.forename: Suha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turkmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon.
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Eryigit
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mentese
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon.
authors.forename: Serdar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turkyilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon.
authors.forename: Suleyman
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turedi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ozel Yildizli Guven Hospital, Trabzon.
authors.forename: Suleyman Caner
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Karahan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University Faculty of Medicine, Trabzon.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gunduz
keywords: Abdominal mass; I-FABP; abdominal pain; mesenteric ischemia