title: Plasma nitric oxide level is correlated with microvascular functions in the peripheral arterial disease.
abstract: At present there is no widely accepted biomarker for monitoring of vascular functions. The purpose of this prospective study was to investigate the association of some blood biomarkers with vascular reactivity in patients with peripheral arterial diseases (PAD). A prospective evaluation was made of 3 groups comprising a control group of healthy individuals, and patients with PAD caused by either atherosclerosis or Buerger's disease. Microvascular perfusion was examined using laser Doppler imaging of cutaneous erythrocyte flux after iontophoresis of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The correlation of microvascular reactivity with endothelium-related biomarkers was assessed. ACh-induced and SNP-induced vasodilations were significantly diminished in the PAD groups. The plasma nitric oxide (NO) levels of PAD patients were significantly higher than those of the control group, but asymmetric dimethylarginine, total antioxidant capacity and hydrogen sulphide levels were similar. Plasma NO level was negatively correlated with ACh and SNP-stimulated microvascular flow increase, whereas a positive correlation was detected with blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels in all groups. These results indicate that a high plasma level of NO in PAD patients is associated with diminished endothelium-dependent and independent flow increase in the microvascular bed. An excessive amount of NO-induced nitrosative stress in an inflammatory condition that might be a reason for vascular dysfunction should be taken into consideration in the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to PAD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Peripheral Vascular Surgery, Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muzaffer
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akkoca
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Suzan Emel
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Usanmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Peripheral Vascular Surgery, Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cuneyt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Koksoy
authors.affiliation: Department of Peripheral Vascular Surgery, Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ugur
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bengisun
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Sihhiye, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demirel-Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide
keywords: Peripheral arterial disease; atherosclerosis; endothelial dysfunction; microcirculation; nitric oxide