Short report: total serum levels of the nitric oxide derivatives nitrite/nitrate during microfilarial clearance in human filarial disease.
Nitric oxide (NO) has recently been shown to be cytotoxic to both microfilariae and adult Brugia malayi in vitro and in a murine model, as well against Onchocerca lienalis microfilariae in vitro. We studied the kinetics of nitrite/nitrate, both stable end products of NO, by high-pressure liquid chromatography during microfilaricidal chemotherapy in four filariasis (three Loa loa, and one Onchocerca volvulus) patients. High serum levels of nitrite/nitrate were released during microfilarial clearance and sustained elevated levels were observed six months after chemotherapy, suggesting a role of NO in the elimination of microfilariae in human filariasis.
Winkler
S
S
Department of Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine I, University of Vienna, Austria.
El Menyawi
I
I
Linnau
K F
KF
Graninger
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005368:Filariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008842:Microfilariae; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*
D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide