The significance of elevation of serum phosphate levels in experimental intestinal ischemia.

It has been suggested that the serum phosphate level is significantly elevated early in massive intestinal infarction. We attempted to determine whether or not this elevation in serum phosphate level is indeed an early and reliable diagnostic finding and to define the relationship between this elevation, the re-establishment of mesenteric blood flow and the viability of the intestinal wall. Significant elevation in serum phosphate value occurred after four hours of ischemia. This was associated with irreversibility of the ischemic process and intestinal necrosis according to an intravenous fluorescein test and pathologic data. The results of other superior mesenteric artery-12 parameters followed were erratic and appeared to have no diagnostic value in acute mesenteric arterial occlusion. Significant serum phosphate level elevation occurs in arterial intestinal ischemia, but this is not an early diagnostic sign, becoming significant only after irreversible necrosis of the intestine.