Direct determination of colonic nitric oxide level--a sensitive marker of disease activity in ulcerative colitis.
OBJECTIVE
In active ulcerative colitis, colonic nitric oxide (NO) generation is enhanced and probably has an important role in its pathogenesis. We tested the reliability of an NO electrode in monitoring colonic NO levels in ulcerative colitis patients and control subjects and its possible usage as a marker of disease activity.


METHODS
Colonic NO level was determined by the NO detection system model NO-501 (InterMedical, Nagoya, Japan). The working electrode was inserted into a 7-mm diameter polyvinyl tube and introduced at a distance 6 cm from the anus. In each subject sigmoidoscopy was performed and mucosal biopsies were obtained. NO synthase (NOS) activity was determined by monitoring the conversion of 3H-arginine to citrulline.


RESULTS
Colonic NO level is significantly increased in patients with active ulcerative or Crohn's colitis--more than 2-fold higher than in control subjects. There was good correlation between colonic NO level and NOS activity and the clinical and endoscopic indices of disease activity.


CONCLUSIONS
Direct determination of colonic NO level is convenient, and reliable, and may help to monitor disease activity in ulcerative colitis.
Rachmilewitz
D
D
Department of Medicine, Hadassah University Hospital, Mount Scopus, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel.
Eliakim
R
R
Ackerman
Z
Z
Karmeli
F
F
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000378:metabolism*; D003106:Colon / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism; D004567:Electrodes, Implanted; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase