title: High serum nitric oxide levels in patients with severe leptospirosis.
abstract: Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonosis of major public health importance and is associated with severe disease manifestations such as acute renal failure and pulmonary haemorrhage syndrome. However, the extent to which the pathogenesis of leptospirosis mimics sepsis caused by Gram-negative bacteria remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of nitric oxide (NO) in patients diagnosed with severe leptospirosis. Sera from 35 confirmed cases of severe leptospirosis and 13 healthy subjects were analysed. Patients with severe leptospirosis had significantly higher NO levels compared to healthy individuals (30.82+/-10.90 microM versus 3.86+/-1.34 microM, P < 0.001), indicating that this immune mediator plays a role in the underlying systemic inflammatory response.
authors.affiliation: Gonçalo Moniz Research Centre, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Ministry of Health, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elves A P
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Athanazio
authors.forename: Eliana A G
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Fernando Q
authors.initials: FQ
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Adriano
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Deusdelia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Almeida
authors.forename: Alan J A
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: McBride
authors.forename: Albert I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Mitermayer G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Reis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007565:Jaundice / Q000473:pathology; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology; D012769:Shock / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide