Evaluation value of citrulline in severe patients with acute gastrointestinal dysfunction

ObjectiveTo investigate the value of citrulline on acute gastrointestinal dysfunction in severe patients.

MethodsA prospective study was used to select 113 cases of severe patients admitted to ICU and EICU.According to the occurrence of acute gastrointestinal injury (AGI), they were divided into AGI group(n=73) and non-AGI group(n=40).The serum citrulline levels of the two groups were statistically analyzed.The APACHE Ⅱ score, MODS score and 28 days mortality of the AGI group were statistically analyzed, then the correlation was analyzed.

ResultsThe serum citrulline level of AGI patients with different clinical grades on the third day was lower than that on the first day (P < 0.05).The serum citrulline level on the first and third days of grade Ⅰ patients in AGI group was higher than that in grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients, and that in grade Ⅱ and Ⅲ patients was higher than that in grade Ⅳ patients, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01).All patients in AGI group were lower than those in non-AGI group (P < 0.01).In AGI group, the MODS scores and 28 day mortality of patients with grade Ⅰ, Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ were gradually increased (P < 0.01), and the APACHE Ⅱ score of patients with grade Ⅰ was lower than those with grade Ⅱ, Ⅲ and Ⅳ (P < 0.05 to P < 0.01).The serum citrulline level in AGI group was significantly negatively correlated with clinical grade (r_s=-0.731), APACHE Ⅱ score(r=-0.573) and MODS score(r=-0.611) (P < 0.01).

ConclusionsCitrulline has high evaluation value for acute gastrointestinal dysfunction in severe patients.