The role of vagal insulin signaling and enteric hormones in acute stomach and duodenal erosions and ulcers associated with severe concomitant traumatic head injuries

Aim. Clinical and experimental study of vagal insulin signaling and enteric hormones in occurrence of acute stomach and duodenal erosions and ulcers complicated by bleeding and associated with severe concomitant traumatic head injuries.

Methods. Data of 347 patients with severe concomitant traumatic head injuries for 2011-2012 were used for clinical part of the study. Serum levels of insulin, gastrin, C-peptide, histamine, growth hormone, α-amylase were determined. In the experimental part, the model of acute stomach and duodenal erosions and ulcers associated with traumatic head injury were modeled. The first group consisted of 5 intact rats, the second group included 45 rats with modeled isolated traumatic head injury, the third group included 45 rats with modeled traumatic head injury associated with traumatic lung and chest injury, the fourth group included 45 rats with modeled traumatic head injury associated with abdominal organs traumatic injury, the fifth group included 45 rats with modeled traumatic head injury associated with limb and pelvic fractures.

Results. Acute stomach and duodenal erosions and ulcers were found in 21 (6.1%) of 347 patients at endoscopy, mainly in those with the highest parameters of vagal insulin signaling and enteric hormones. At the experiment, all types of combined traumatic head injury increased the incidence of erosions as compared to the second group, with the highest incidence in the group of associated abdominal injury. Vagal stimulation and stimulation of enteric hormones secretion in animals of groups 2-5 was associated with higher incidence of erosions. In contrast, decreased vagal stimulation and enteric hormones secretion leaded to statistically significant reduction of erosions incidence in animals of groups 2-5 as compared both to the natural history of the process (first subgroup), and to animals which were administered 5% dextrose (glucose) and 0.1% histamine solutions (second subgroup).

Conclusion. The incidence of erosions and ulcers, as well as the indicators of vagal stimulation and enteric hormones secretion depend on the nature of the accompanying injury that may be taken into account in the prevention and treatment of such complications.