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/
L. Atzori et al., 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/, Medical science research, 26(6), 1998, pp. 375-376
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.