title: Reduced nitric oxide in amniotic fluid of patients with chorioamnionitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Levels of nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines were assessed in amniotic fluid obtained from patients with severe chorioamnionitis (CAM) and appropriate controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Amniotic fluid was obtained from 12 patients with CAM (17-24 weeks of gestation) and 89 patients undergoing diagnostic amniocentesis (16-18 weeks of gestation). The concentrations of NO, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and leukocyte elastase (LE) in amniotic fluid were then measured and compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentrations of NO, IL-6, and LE were all higher in CAM cases than in normal pregnant women. Furthermore, an inverse correlation between NO and LE was suggested in the CAM group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that in severe CAM, the action of NO might be reduced, not only due to blockage of action but also by degradation, despite increased production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Ghada A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Daoud
authors.forename: Yoshikatsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Tamao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kaoru
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Suzumori
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Togari
mesh_terms: D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase