ELEVATED PLASMA NITRATE IN PATIENTS WITH CRUSH SYNDROME CAUSED BY THEKOBE EARTHQUAKE

We investigated the nitric oxide profile in the plasma of ten healthy controls and 29 patients hurt by the Kobe Earthquake. The levels of ni trite (NO2-) and nitrate (NO3-) were measured simultaneously by high-p erformance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV detection using the Gr iess reaction after the reduction of nitrate to nitrite. Arginine cons umed in food or diet-derived nitrite had no effect on the plasma nitri te and nitrate contents of the healthy volunteers. Plasma nitrate was elevated in the crush syndrome patients; whereas neither nitrite nor n itrate was increased in patients with normal renal function. This find ing suggests increased nitric oxide synthesis, decreased excretion of nitric oxide in the crush syndrome or both. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.