[Nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase in patients with chronic hepatitis B].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in patients with chronic hepatitis B.


METHODS
Nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase, including inducible NOS (iNOS) and constitutive NOS (cNOS), were measured in patients and control groups, then were statistically analyzed.


RESULTS
NO and iNOS were significantly higher in patients with hepatitis B than in the controls (P < 0.05). NO and iNOS were significantly higher in patients with increased ALT than in the controls and in patients with normal ALT (P < 0.05). NO was significantly higher in patients with normal ALT than in the controls (P < 0.05). cNOS were not significant different among these groups. NO and iNOS significantly correlated with ALT in patients with hepatitis B (r=0.367 and r=0.474). No significant relationship was found among NO, NOS and HBV DNA. Among different genotype groups, NO and NOS had no significant difference.


CONCLUSIONS
NO and NOS were higher in patents with chronic hepatitis B. In patients with increased ALT, NO's damage was severe. In patients with normal ALT, there was no significant damage caused by NO. NO should be detected in patients with hepatitis B in addition to HBV markers.
Wang
Kai
K
Department of Liver Disease, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China.
Han
Li-yan
LY
Lu
Qin
Q
Wang
Bing
B
Li
Xin-he
XH
Wang
Hui-min
HM
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
D004279:DNA, Viral; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000410:Alanine Transaminase