Increased nitric oxide in the exhaled air of patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if nitric oxide output in exhaled air is increased in patients with liver cirrhosis.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A university hospital.


METHODS
50 patients with liver cirrhosis, 6 patients with chronic hepatitis, and 15 healthy controls.


METHODS
Nitric oxide in exhaled air was measured using a chemiluminescence analyzer. Cardiac index was determined using echocardiography.


RESULTS
Patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis had higher levels of exhaled nitric oxide output (Child C patients, 190 +/- 11 nL/min per m2 body surface area) than controls (97 +/- 8 nL/min per m2 body surface area; P < 0.001), whereas patients with compensated liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis had levels of nitric oxide output similar to those found in controls. Cardiac index was greater in patients with liver cirrhosis (Child C patients, 4.3 +/- 0.3 L/min per m2 body surface area) than in controls (2.9 +/- 0.2 L/min per m2 body surface area; P < 0.001). Cardiac index correlated with nitric oxide levels (r = 0.621; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased nitric oxide output in exhaled air is associated with systemic circulatory disturbances in patients with liver cirrhosis.
Matsumoto
A
A
University of Tokyo, Japan.
Ogura
K
K
Hirata
Y
Y
Kakoki
M
M
Watanabe
F
F
Takenaka
K
K
Shiratori
Y
Y
Momomura
S
S
Omata
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001944:Breath Tests; D002302:Cardiac Output; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
D009569:Nitric Oxide