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Background: Early diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia can be life saving. The aim of this study is to investigate the time-dependent diagnostic value of plasma D-dimer and other ancillary laboratory evaluations such as creatine phosphokinase, lactic dehydrogenase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, amylase, and leukocyte count in an experimental superior mesenteric arterial occlusion (SMA-O) model in rats. Methods: Forty male Wistar-Albino rats were separated into 4 groups: 2-, 4-, 6-, and 12-hour SMA-O groups. After laparotomy, the SMA was identified and ligated for 2, 4, 6 and 12 h in the 4 respective study groups. Blood samples were taken for laboratory tests 2 h after laparotomy in the control group and at the end of the ischemic period in the study groups. Results: The longer the duration of mesenteric ischemia, the higher were the serum D-dimer levels in the study groups, and statistical significance was obtained at 2 h (p = 0.021). Sensitivity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of the relation were 88.8, 88.8, 100 and 90%, respectively. Leukocyte count was significantly higher than controls after 12 h. No other laboratory parameter correlated positively with the duration of mesenteric ischemia. Conclusion: Serum D-dimer measurements may be a valuable diagnostic parameter in the early diagnosis of mesenteric ischemia. Copyright © 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]