Nitrite plasma levels in normolipemic and hypercholesterolemic arteriopathics after vasoactive and lipid-lowering treatment.
BACKGROUND
The authors studied the plasmatic levels of nitrites, stable end-products of nitric oxide in arteriopathic patients before and after vasoactive and lipid-lowering treatment.


METHODS
The series consisted of 63 subjects (mean age 64 +/- 9) suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease; 21 subjects with total cholesterol (TC) lower than 200 mg/dl were considered as normolipemic (group A); 24 subjects with TC ranging between 200 and 240 mg/dl were considered as mild hypercholesterolemic (group B); 18 subjects with TC higher than 240 mg/dl were consider as severe hypercholesterolemic (group C). All the patients were examined before and after 15 and 30 days of a vasoactive treatment (calciparine, aspirin, buflomedil and pentoxiphylline); group B after vasoactive and diet (NCEP phase 1) treatment and group C after vasoactive, diet and drug (simvastatin) treatment. Nitrite plasma levels were determined by the Gutman and Hollywood colorimetric method.


RESULTS
In group A the basal value of nitrites was sharply (p < 0.05) lower than controls; after vasoactive treatment a significant increase (p < 0.05), was observed after 15 and 30 days; in group B the basal value was higher than controls; after 15 days a significant increase (p < 0.5) was noted, but a regression was found after 30 days. Also in group C the basal value of nitrites was higher (p < 0.05) than controls; after treatment significant changes were not found.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase of nitrites in group A may be due to an improved endothelial function; this phenomenon, less appreciable in group B and no longer evident in group C may depend on the lipid-lowering treatment.
Ferlito
S
S
Chair of Semeiology and Medical Methodology, University of Catania, Garibaldi Hospital, Italy.
Gallina
M
M
Catassi
S
S
Bisicchia
A
A
Di Salvo
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries; D005260:Female; D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000178:diet therapy / Q000188:drug therapy; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*
D005343:Fibrinolytic Agents; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D008055:Lipids; D009573:Nitrites