[Effect of xanthine oxidase inhibitors on the prognosis of acute intestinal ischemia].

During the last few years, the scientific field has focused its attention on the pathogenic role of free radicals in the process of ischemia-revascularization. It is a well-known fact that xanthine oxidase is an important source of tissular free radicals. Bearing this in mind, we designed an experimental protocol to analyse the effect of allopurinol (a xanthine oxidase inhibitor) in the survival of rats after the occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery during a period of 90 minutes and its action on the superoxide radical liberation. The concentration of oxipurinol and allopurinol in the ischemic area (intestine), liver and blood were measured. We concluded that the administration of allopurinol increased the survival rate, which is correlated to higher concentrations of allopurinol and oxipurinol in the inner part of the intestinal cells. A correlation between the survival rate and superoxide radicals was not found.