Diamine oxidase as a marker for diagnosis of superior mesenteric arterial occlusion.

Abstract

We investigated changes in serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activity during superior mesenteric arterial occlusion. We aimed to evaluate its value in the early diagnosis of superior mesenteric arterial occlusion. Seventy mature male Sprague-Dawley rats were used in the study. These were divided into 7 groups of 10 rats each: 10min, 15min, 30min, 45min, 60min and 90min superior mesenteric arterial occlusion (SMA-O) groups, and a sham group. Blood samples were taken at the indicated time points for measuring serum DAO activity. Simultaneously, the small-intestinal segments were assessed histologically and graded according to Chiu's score. In the 15min group, SMA-O resulted in a rapid increase in DAO activity. Serum DAO activity and the mucosal injury score fitted well with the cubic model (r2=0.985, p<0.01). There was a positive correlation between ischemic duration and small-intestinal mucosal injury (r=0.909, p<0.01). Taking DAO=29.81U/L as a early diagnostic standard for superior mesenteric arterial occlusion, the sensitivity, accuracy and specificity were 94.34% (50/53), 95.71% (67/70), 100% (17/17), respectively. Serum DAO activity is a sensitive predictor of small-intestinal injury. Our finding suggests that measurement of serum DAO levels might provide a marker for early diagnosis of superior mesenteric arterial occlusion.