title: Lack of association between CSF nitrate and sera nitrate in falciparum malaria infection.
abstract: Nitrate levels in CSF and sera from 16 coma and 19 noncoma falciparum malaria patients were determined using nitric oxide colorometric assay. The medians (range lower, upper limits) of nitrate in sera of comatose and noncomatose patients were 0.28 (0.11, 1.24) and 0.23 (0.05, 0.87) microM, respectively. The medians of nitrate level in CSF of coma and noncoma cases were 0.09 (0.01, 0.28) and 0.15 (0, 1.18) microM, respectively. There was no difference of nitrate level in sera and CSF from comatose or noncomatose patients compared to that in normal sera and CSF. The amount of nitrate in sera and CSF of both groups was not significantly correlated with coma depth, parasitemia, parasite clearance time and time to recovery. Contrast to our in vitro study using immunoperoxidase staining, we found inducible nitric oside synthase production by brain endothelial cells during 4-24 hours of coculturing with late stage of P. falciparum infected red blood cells. These results suggests that malaria severity can not be differentiated by nitrate level in body fluid.
authors.affiliation: Department of Tropical Pathology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maneerat
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wilairatana
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Udomsangpetch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Looareesuwan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003128:Coma / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000502:physiology; D013785:Thailand
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase