Pd. Reynolds et al., CONFIRMATION OF NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHESIS IN ACTIVE ULCERATIVE-COLITIS BY INFRARED DIODE-LASER SPECTROSCOPY, European journal of gastroenterology & hepatology, 9(5), 1997, pp. 463-466
Background: The synthesis of nitric oxide (NO) in the colonic mucosa o
f patients affected by ulcerative colitis (UC) has been previously inv
estigated using indirect measurements of enzyme activity and non-speci
fic measurements of luminal NO gas. The aim of this study was to deter
mine unequivocally if luminal NO gas in active UC is present in greate
r concentrations than in healthy control subjects. Methods: Luminal ga
s was collected from eight patients with active UC and eight healthy v
olunteers. NO gas concentration was measured using diode laser spectro
scopy. Results: NO gas was detected in four of eight patients with act
ive UC (range 0.13-1.1 nmol) and none of the healthy control subjects.
Conclusion: NO gas is present in greater concentrations in patients w
ith active UC than in control subjects. This supports the view that mu
cosal NO synthesis is increased in ulcerative colitis.