Increased plasma malondialdehyde in patients with small intestinal strangulation obstruction

Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) was evaluated as an index of lipid peroxidation in 20 patients with small intestinal obstruction, with or without strangulation. The gut proved to be strangulated in nine cases--irreversibly in five and reversibly in four--while 11 patients had simple obstruction. The MDA levels in these cases were compared with values obtained from 29 healthy control subjects. The mean MDA level in the control group was 2.3 +/- 0.7 (range 1.5-4.0) mumol/l. In the patients with strangulation obstruction the MDA concentration was 6.7 +/- 1.6 mumol/l, and in those with simple obstruction it was 2.9 +/- 0.5 mumol/l. The difference between the MDA level in strangulation and in the other investigated groups was statistically significant. Values above 4 mumol/l were found in all the patients with intestinal strangulation, whereas those with simple obstruction had lower values. The heightened MDA level in patients with intestinal strangulation may be used for diagnostic purposes.