Intestinal ischemia, also called mesenteric ischemia, is a severe gastrointestinal and vascular medical emergency caused by a sudden decrease of blood flow through the mesenteric vessels. It generates hypoperfusion of intestinal tissues and can rapidly progress to intestinal wall infarction, systemic inflammation or even death if not treated in time. The mortality of this condition is still considerably high despite all the medical advances of the past few years. This is partially due to the difficulty of diagnosing early stage mesenteric ischemia. Indeed, a speedy and correct diagnosis is decisive for suitable medical care. However, early symptoms are unspecific and conventional clinical markers are neither specific nor sensitive enough. In the last few years, significant clinical and preclinical efforts have been made to find biomarkers which could predict gastrointestinal damage before it becomes irreversible. Here, the gut-derived hormone glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is described as a potential early biomarker of this severe condition. Indeed, GLP-1 plasma levels rise rapidly in both mice and humans with intestinal ischemia. This discovery could counter the cruel lack of clinical biomarkers available to diagnose and therefore manage intestinal ischemia efficiently in the early stages. GLP-1 could thus become part of a panel of biomarkers for intestinal ischemia and could help to reduce the associated high mortality rates.

肠缺血，也称为肠系膜缺血，是由于通过肠系膜血管的血流量突然减少引起的严重胃肠道和血管医学紧急情况。如果不及时治疗，它会引起肠道组织灌注不足，并迅速发展为肠壁梗塞，全身性炎症甚至死亡。尽管过去几年在医学上取得了进步，但这种疾病的死亡率仍然很高。这部分是由于诊断早期肠系膜缺血的困难。实际上，快速正确的诊断对于适当的医疗护理至关重要。但是，早期症状是非特异性的，常规的临床标志物既没有特异性也没有足够的敏感性。在过去的几年里，为了寻找可以在胃肠道不可逆转之前预测胃肠道损害的生物标记物，人们进行了重大的临床和临床前努力。在这里，肠源性激素胰高血糖素样肽1（GLP-1）被描述为这种严重疾病的潜在早期生物标志物。实际上，在患有肠缺血的小鼠和人类中，GLP-1血浆水平均迅速升高。这一发现可以弥补临床生物标志物可用于诊断并因此在早期有效管理肠缺血的残酷缺乏。因此，GLP-1可能成为肠道缺血生物标志物组的一部分，并可能有助于降低相关的高死亡率。肠道源性激素胰高血糖素样肽1（GLP-1）被描述为这种严重疾病的潜在早期生物标志物。实际上，在患有肠缺血的小鼠和人类中，GLP-1血浆水平均迅速升高。这一发现可以弥补临床生物标志物可用于诊断并因此在早期有效管理肠缺血的残酷缺乏。因此，GLP-1可能成为肠道缺血生物标志物组的一部分，并可能有助于降低相关的高死亡率。肠道源性激素胰高血糖素样肽1（GLP-1）被描述为这种严重疾病的潜在早期生物标志物。实际上，在患有肠缺血的小鼠和人类中，GLP-1血浆水平均迅速升高。这一发现可以弥补临床生物标志物可用于诊断并因此在早期有效管理肠缺血的残酷缺乏。因此，GLP-1可能成为肠道缺血生物标志物组的一部分，并可能有助于降低相关的高死亡率。