S. Lindberg et al., NITRIC-OXIDE (NO) PRODUCTION IN THE UPPER AIRWAYS IS DECREASED IN CHRONIC SINUSITIS, Acta oto-laryngologica, 117(1), 1997, pp. 113-117
The nasal concentration of nitric oxide (NO) was measured by chemilumi
nescence in healthy volunteers 3-68 years of age, and in patients suff
ering from common cold and chronic sinusitis. The concentration of NO
in healthy subjects, 233.2 +/- 66.8 ppb (mean +/- SD), was found to be
relatively independent of age and body size. The measured levels of N
O did not differ between healthy volunteers and common cold patients,
but they were significantly lower in patients suffering from chronic s
inusitis, 96.4 +/- 72.8 ppb. As NO is a regulator of mucociliary activ
ity and has bacteriostatic and antiviral effects, the decreased concen
tration of NO in patients suffering from sinusitis suggests that lack
of NO may contribute to the pathogenesis of this disease. The importan
ce of NO for the mucociliary system was emphasized by the finding that
the 2 patients with the lowest nasal concentration of NO were found t
o manifest functional and morphological changes of the mucociliary sys
tem that are typical of acquired mucociliary dysfunction.