The metabolites of nitric oxide in sickle-cell disease.
Plasma NOx concentrations were raised in 22 acute painful crises in SCD. We have measured blood concentrations of nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in sickle-cell disease (SCD), and shown that they are increased compared with healthy controls (P = 0.002), and haemoglobin E/beta-thalassaemic controls (P = 0.05). Concentrations in steady-state SCD were also higher than in healthy controls (P = 0.04) but not significantly different from the concentrations at the beginning of painful crises (P = 0.34). Importantly, in 12 regularly exchanged sicklers, the mean pre-transfusion NOx concentration did not differ significantly from the control population (P = 0.52), suggesting that the changes in NO metabolism can be reversed. It is unlikely that the increased concentrations of NOx in SCD result from anaemia or haemolysis as the untransfused haemoglobin E/beta-thalassaemics did not show increased levels.
MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
D C
DC
Rees
P
P
Cervi
D
D
Grimwade
A
A
O'Driscoll
M
M
Hamilton
N E
NE
Parker
J B
JB
Porter
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D005078:Exchange Transfusion, Whole Blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D012805:Sickle Cell Trait / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood
D009566:Nitrates; D009569:Nitric Oxide