INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION : VI. A STUDY OF NON-COAGULABLE NITROGEN OF THE BLOOD

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Gastroenterology
• Clinical Pathology

Background:

• Intestinal obstruction is often linked to elevated non-coagulable nitrogen in the blood.
• Acute intoxication can cause rapid, significant increases in blood non-coagulable nitrogen, while chronic cases may show minimal changes.
• Closed intestinal loops, especially with obstruction, can result in markedly elevated nitrogen levels.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between intestinal obstruction and blood non-coagulable nitrogen levels.
• To explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of non-coagulable nitrogen in intestinal obstruction.
• To understand the underlying mechanisms contributing to elevated non-coagulable nitrogen.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of blood non-coagulable nitrogen, creatinine, and urea levels in experimental models of intestinal obstruction and intoxication.
• Observation of blood chemistry in a human case of intestinal obstruction with autopsy.
• Assessment of the impact of dextrose solution transfusions on blood nitrogen levels.

Main Results:

• Acute intoxication and intestinal obstruction lead to a rise in blood non-coagulable nitrogen, creatinine, and urea.
• High non-coagulable nitrogen readings correlate with grave intoxication, though low readings do not exclude fatal outcomes.
• Kidney function remained normal in most experimental subjects, suggesting protein/tissue destruction as a potential cause for nitrogen increase.

Conclusions:

• Blood non-coagulable nitrogen is a valuable clinical indicator in intestinal obstruction, reflecting intoxication severity.
• Dextrose transfusions may lower non-coagulable nitrogen, but lack of change indicates severe intoxication.
• Protein or tissue breakdown, rather than impaired kidney function, is likely responsible for elevated non-coagulable nitrogen in acute intoxications.