The significance of plasma kinins in intestinal obstruction and peritonitis

The present concept of plasmakinin action suggests that they may also play an important role in the pathophysiology of intestinal obstruction and peritonitis. Since the assay of the kinins is still something of a problem, and since the percursor kallikrein can be determined by a standardized method, we studied the titers of kallikrein in the peripheral and portal circulation in dogs with experimental intestinal obstruction and in patients with these disorders. Significantly higher levels of kallikrein were found in intestinal obstruction, particularly in obstruction with strangulation (Fig. 1).