[The role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of nitric oxide in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension.


METHODS
We measured the portal venous pressure of 75 patients via a catheter and detected the levels of plasma endotoxin and NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-).


RESULTS
The mean levels of plasma endotoxin and NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) (0.249 +/- 0.112 Eu/ml and 55.9 +/- 26.2 micromol/L) in portal hypertensive patients were significantly higher than those in the controls, and the highest values were observed in the portal venous blood. The mean portal venous pressure of the portal hypertensive patients was 35.5 +/- 4.4 cm H(2)O and was positively correlated with the levels of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) (n = 25, r = 0.55, P < 0.01). Positive correlation existed between them during the postoperative period (r = 0.57, P < 0.05). There was a negative correlation between the levels of albumin and NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) (n = 75, r = -0.35, P < 0.01), and the mean levels of NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) were 72.4 +/- 20.3 micromol/L in the patients with ascites, much higher than those (50.3 +/- 21.0 micromol/L) without ascites.


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of plasma endotoxin and nitric oxide were elevated in patients with portal hypertension, and NO might play an important role in the abnormal elevation of portal venous pressure and the damage to liver function.
Zhu
J
J
Department of General Surgery, People's Hospital, Beijing Medical University, Beijing 100044, China.
Wang
D
D
Leng
X
X
Zhang
Z
Z
Wang
F
F
Peng
J
J
Du
R
R
D004731:Endotoxins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009566:Nitrates / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D017082:Portal Pressure
D004731:Endotoxins; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide