Increased nitric oxide in exhaled air in patients with systemic sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the lung production of nitric oxide (NO) in patients with systemic sclerosis.


METHODS
The NO concentration and its rate of production by the lungs were measured in the exhaled air in 14 patients with systemic sclerosis and in 12 healthy control subjects using the chemiluminescent method.


RESULTS
The NO concentration and its rate of production were significantly increased in scleroderma patients (mean +/- SEM, 18.7 +/- 1.7 ppb and 5.8 +/- 0.5 nmol/min, respectively), as compared with control subjects (11.2 +/- 0.8 ppb and 4.3 +/- 0.4 nmol/min, p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
The pulmonary production of NO is increased in scleroderma patients, which might reflect and contribute to the inflammatory processes of the lungs in systemic sclerosis.
Department of Respiratory Physiology, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, Paris, France.
I
I
Fajac
A
A
Kahan
C J
CJ
Menkès
J F
JF
Dessanges
J
J
Dall'Ava-Santucci
A T
AT
Dinh-Xuan
D000328:Adult; D001944:Breath Tests; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology
D009569:Nitric Oxide