부산대학교 도서관

Objective. Patients with advanced liver diseases tend to develop a hyperdynamic circulation which complicates cirrhosis. Impairment of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism has been implicated in the pathogenesis of portal hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-dependent whole body NO production in patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Material and methods. Ten patients with decompensated alcoholic liver disease and portal hypertension (Child-Pugh Classifications B and C with no signs of infection) and 10 age- and gender-matched control subjects received an intravenous infusion of L-[ 15 N] 2 -arginine (50 µmol/min for 30 min). Urine and serum nitrite and nitrate concentrations were determined using ion chromatography-mass spectrometry. Results. NOS-dependent whole body NO synthesis was estimated by the conversion of [ 15 N]guanidino nitrogen of arginine to urine 15 N-nitrite and 15 N-nitrate. The amount of 15 N-nitrite and 15 N-nitrate in the urine of patients and control subjects was significantly correlated with the amount of urine nitrite and nitrate over 36 h ( r =0.91 and 0.77, respectively, p [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]