Vascular Health and Risk Management (Jul 2022)
Plasma α-Glutathione S-Transferase in Patients with Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia and Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome
Abstract
Syed Sajid Hussain Kazmi,1,2 Nathkai Safi,1,2 Simen Tveten Berge,1,2 Marryam Kazmi,1,3 Jon Otto Sundhagen,1 Kari Julien,4 Per Medbøe Thorsby,2,4 Kim Vidar Ånonsen,5 Asle Wilhelm Medhus,2,5 Jonny Hisdal1,2 1Department of Vascular Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, Norway; 2Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; 3Faculty 2, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; 4The Hormone Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Aker, Oslo, Norway; 5Department of Gastroenterology, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, Oslo, NorwayCorrespondence: Syed Sajid Hussain Kazmi, Tel +47 92468309, Email [email protected]: Chronic mesenteric ischemia (CMI) due to either atherosclerosis of the mesenteric arteries or median arcuate ligament syndrome (MALS) is an underdiagnosed entity. The etiology of MALS and its existence have been debated and questioned. We aimed to identify plasma biomarkers indicating mesenteric ischemia in patients with CMI and MALS.Methods: Plasma α-glutathione S-transferase (α-GST), intestinal fatty acid-binding protein (I-FABP), citrulline, and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) were analyzed in fifty-eight patients with CMI (Group A, n=44) and MALS (Group B, n=14) before and after revascularization. The plasma levels of these potential biomarkers were compared with those of healthy individuals (Group C, n=16). Group comparison was performed with the Mann–Whitney U-test. Cross-tabulation and its derivatives were obtained. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated.Results: Plasma levels of α-GST were significantly raised in the patients with CMI (7.8 ng/mL, p< 0.001) and MALS (8.4 ng/mL, p< 0.001), as compared with the control Group C (3.3 ng/mL). The threshold for normal median plasma α-GST levels of 4 ng/mL yielded a sensitivity of 93% and 86%, specificity of 86% and 88%, respectively, for the diagnosis of CMI due to atherosclerosis and MALS. AUC of ROC curves was 0.96 (p< 0.0001) for CMI and 0.85 (p< 0.002) for MALS. The patient groups did not differ from the healthy controls in any other biomarkers.Conclusion: Plasma α-GST levels are elevated in CMI and MALS patients. Elevated plasma levels of α-GST suggest ischemia as the etiology of MALS.Keywords: biomarker, chronic mesenteric ischemia, intestinal ischemia, median arcuate ligament syndrome, α-GST
