Abstract
Introduction
Intestinal toxicity can occur following ingestion of various drugs, chemicals, and toxins. Intestinal fatty acid binding protein is a cytosolic protein specific to intestinal epithelial cells released into the systemic circulation following intestinal injury. Understanding intestinal toxicity in poisoning has the potential to explain mechanisms of toxicity and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Methods
Plasma samples were retrospectively analysed for intestinal fatty acid binding protein in 25 healthy controls and in those poisoned with Gloriosa superba (n = 18), Thevetia peruviana (n = 26), organophosphates (in various solvents) (n = 17), paracetamol (n = 14), glyphosate (n = 20), 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (n = 18) and propanil (n = 19).
Results
Median peak plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein concentrations were significantly higher in patients poisoned with Gloriosa superba (2,994.1 µg/L; interquartile range 600.0–5,158.2, P < 0.001), Thevetia peruviana (1,292.5 µg/L; interquartile range 760.3 − 2,076.2; P < 0.001), glyphosate (1,803.6 µg/L; interquartile range 225.7–8,927.7; P < 0.001), 2-methyl-4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (1,236.2 µg/L; interquartile range 192.6 − 1,709.7; P = 0.010), paracetamol (1,066.5 µg/L; interquartile range 512.9 − 1,336.9; P = 0.035), and organophosphate poisoning (729.8 µg/L; interquartile range 431.5 − 1,588.2; P = 0.046) than in healthy controls (221.6 µg/L; interquartile range 134.8 − 460.1). Median intestinal fatty acid binding protein was not statistically significantly increased compared to controls after propanil poisoning (630.0 µg/L; interquartile range 23.5 − 1,390.3; P = 0.423).
Conclusions
Our pilot study describes intestinal injury assessed by elevated plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein concentrations following the ingestion of several poisons. This serves as a foundation for further exploration into enterocyte damage in toxicology.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Data availability statement
The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.