A new mechanism of serum creatine phosphokinase elevation in strangulated small bowel obstruction: an experimental rat model.

An experimental rat model was used to investigate the mechanisms of serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevation in strangulated small bowel obstruction. Two models were used: a strangulated ileus model with the bowel lumen and blood flow obstructed simultaneously, and a control ileus model with only the bowel lumen occluded. The experiments demonstrated that CPK was released into the blood when the mesenteric blood flow was restored, and that CPK was released into the intestinal lumen in the strangulated ileus model but not the control ileus model. CPK activity in the mucosal layer of the strangulated ileus model was significantly decreased compared with that in the control ileus model. Purified CPK injected into the intestinal lumen was absorbed by the healthy intestine. These results suggest a new mechanism of serum CPK elevation in strangulated small bowel obstruction in which serum CPK is elevated with a significant decrease in mucosal CPK. Strangulated bowel content including mucosal CPK may be reabsorbed by the healthy distal intestine when bowel obstruction is incomplete.