NOx (nitrite/nitrate) in cerebral spinal fluids obtained from patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy.
It has become evident that the number of patients with a new type of influenza-associated encephalopathy is increasing in Japan. Nitric oxide (NO), a simple free radical gas, elicits a wide range of physiological and pathophysiological effects. We measured the nitrite/nitrate (NO x ) levels in cerebral spinal fluid obtained from patients with influenza-associated encephalopathy in order to evaluate the correlation between the NO production and the process of influenza-associated encephalopathy. Fifteen children were enrolled, aged from 1 to 9 years. As control we used 14 cerebral spinal fluids obtained from patients with urinary tract infection, respiratory infection or mumps meningitis without any sequela. NO 3 in influenza-associated encephalopathy was significantly higher than that of control group. On the other hand NO 2 was not significantly higher than that of control group. In particular, 4 out of 5 fatal cases revealed high NO 2 or NO 3. One case having normal levels in NO 2 and NO 3 showed that NH 3 was high. These results revealed that NO plays a role in influenza-associated encephalopathy through indirect effects of NO.
Kawashima
H
H
Department of Paediatrics, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan. hisashi@tokyo-med.ac.jp
Watanabe
Y
Y
Morishima
T
T
Togashi
T
T
Yamada
N
N
Kashiwagi
Y
Y
Takekuma
K
K
Hoshika
A
A
Mori
T
T
D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004569:Electroencephalography; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015996:Survival Rate; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D009569:Nitric Oxide