PLASMA NITRITE NITRATE AND TOTAL THIOLS AS MARKERS OF NITRIC-OXIDE PRODUCTION AND OXIDATIVE STRESS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY-DISEASE AND CHRONIC RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY/

The physiopathology of various inflammatory processes is associated wi th an increased production of nitric oxide (NO) and a decrease in redu ced thiol molecules, e.g. glutathione, by the associated oxidative str ess. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic respirat ory insufficiency (CRI) are conditions characterized by the presence o f an inflammatory state. Since there is evidence that NO is rapidly co nverted into nitrite/nitrate, we measured the levels of its metabolite s, nitrite and nitrate, and of total thiols, including reduced glutath ione, in the plasma of patients with clinical exacerbation of COPD and CRI. Nitrite/nitrate values were significantly higher than those of t he controls. In contrast, total thiols were significantly lower. There was a strong negative correlation coefficient between nitrite/nitrate levels and total thiols (r = -0.76). We conclude that nitrite/nitrate and total thiols may be a useful and practical marker for monitoring disease activity in COPD and CRI patients. Med Sci Res 26:375-376 (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers.