US EPA

1703814 

Journal Article 

Serum nitric oxide products in patients with multiple sclerosis: relationship with clinical activity 

Zabaleta, ME; Bianco, NE; De Sanctis, JB 

1998 

1 

Medical Science Research
ISSN: 0269-8951 

26 

6 

373-374 

WOS:000074651000004 

We have assessed nitric oxide (NO) products, nitrites and
nitrates in the sera of 80 controls and 14 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in different
stages of clinical activity: seven with clinical remission (RR) (clinically inactive) and seven
with chronic progressive (CP) disease (four active and three inactive). Overall, the levels of
nitrites, nitrates and total NO products were significantly lower (p < 0.001) in MS patients than
in controls. However, this decrease was significant only in patients with RR (P < 0.0001) and
inactive CP (P < 0.0005). Likewise, patients with RR and inactive CP patients had significantly
(P < 0.001 and P < 0.05 respectively) lower levels of NO products (16.92 +/- 3.1 mu mol/l and 18
+/- 3.17 mu mol/l respectively) as compared to active CP patients (24.1 +/- 2.81 mu mol/l). Serum
NO levels may vary with the stage and activity of the disease. Future studies should ascertain
the importance of serum NO in MS. Med Sci Res 26:373-374 (C) 1998 Lippincott-Raven Publishers. 

nitric oxide; multiple sclerosis; nitrite; nitrate