C. Soderman et al., ENDOGENOUS NITRIC-OXIDE IN EXHALED AIR FROM PATIENTS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS, Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology, 32(6), 1997, pp. 591-597
Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the potential eff
ects of liver insufficiency on nitric oxide concentrations in exhaled
air. Methods: Nitric oxide concentrations in the exhaled air from 13 p
atients with liver cirrhosis and 11 healthy control subjects was exami
ned by the single-breath technique. Results: There was a clear correla
tion between Child-Pugh score and NO in exhaled air (peak after 15 sec
of breathholding, R = 0.623, P = 0.023). Similarly, there were signif
icant correlations in peak NO concentrations and alkaline phosphatase,
bilirubin, aspartate and alanine aminotransferase, and albumin. The m
ost severely ill patient in our study had the highest NO concentration
s in her exhaled air. On recovery from her liver illness the concentra
tion of NO in her exhaled air decreased. There was no correlation betw
een circulating levels of the endogenous NO synthase inhibitors asymme
tric and symmetric N-G,N-G-dimethyl-arginine and exhaled NO concentrat
ions. Conclusions: The present data show a correlation between endogen
ous NO formation in the respiratory system and liver dysfunction. This
might contribute to the understanding of the pathophysiology in pulmo
nary vasodilatation in liver disease.