Changes in nitric oxide metabolism in co-morbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and chronic cerebral ischemia

Abstract

Summary. The study was aimed at investigation of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism including total and separate concentrations of stable NO metabolites (nitrate anions and nitrite anions) and 3-nitrotirosine concentration in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and in COPD with concomitant chronic cerebral ischemia (CCI). The study involved 55 patients aged 51 to 67 years divided into 2 groups: 28 patients with COPD II–III stage (the 1st group) and 27 patients with COPD II–III stage and concomitant CCI II–III stage (the 2nd group). The control group included 25 healthy non-smoking volunteers. A significant increase in nitrate anion concentration and in the total nitrite and nitrate concentration was found in the blood of patients of both groups compared to the controls. A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between the blood nitrite anion concentration and FEV1 (r = –0.77; p < 0.05) in COPD patients. These results demonstrate that changes in NO metabolism related to nitrous stress could emerge even in stable COPD. In co-existing COPD and CCI, changes in these biomarkers could be also related to functional particularities of nitrite reductase apart from the nitrous stress.