Figure 2

Early intestinal cell damage is related to presence of shock and the extent of injury severity. (a) Plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (i-FABP) concentrations were significantly increased in patients with an elevated shock index (SI > 0.7) compared with patients with a normal SI (= 0.7) († P < 0.01) or healthy controls (* P < 0.01). Also in trauma patients with a normal SI, i-FABP levels were higher in comparison to healthy controls (* P < 0.01). (b) i-FABP concentrations in patients with an injury severity score (ISS) of more than 30 were significantly elevated compared with ISS of 30 categories or less († P < 0.05). Intestinal cell damage in all ISS categories was increased compared with healthy controls (* P < 0.01). (c) i-FABP levels in patients with severe abdominal trauma (abbreviated injury scale (AIS) = 3) were significantly increased compared with patients without abdominal injury (AIS = 0; * P < 0.01) and healthy controls († P < 0.001). i-FABP levels in patients without abdominal trauma were significantly higher compared with healthy controls († P < 0.001).