Nitric oxide production is increased in patients with inflammatory myositis

A. Wanchu, M. Khullar, A. Sud, P. Bambery

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased in several inflammatory disorders. We have previously demonstrated higher levels of NO production among patients with rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus. In this study we measured serum levels of nitrite and citrulline using calorimetric methods as surrogate markers of NO production among patients with inflammatory myositis (IM). Twenty patients with IM and 19 age- and sex- matched controls were studied. Serum nitrite levels were significantly higher among patients than among controls (986.6 ± 880 and 204.3 ± 113.9 nmol/ml, respectively; P = 0.001). Serum citrulline levels, too, were significantly higher among patients than among controls (3755.7 ± 1905.5 and 189 ± 177.2 nmol/ml, respectively; P < 0.0001). There was a positive correlation between steroid dosage and serum citrulline levels (r = 0.51, P = 0.036) and a negative correlation between steroid dosage and disease duration (r = -0.54, P = 0.025). It was concluded that NO production is increased in patients with IM and those with more active disease, as indicated by higher steroid dosage, have higher serum citrulline levels. (C) 1999 Academic Press.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)454-458
Number of pages5
JournalNitric Oxide - Biology and Chemistry
Volume3
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1999

Keywords

  • Citrulline
  • Inflammatory myositis
  • Nitric oxide
  • Nitrite

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physiology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cancer Research

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