Increased nitric oxide in infective gastroenteritis.

Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased in several inflammatory disorders, although the role of this gas is not clear. The purpose of this study was to determine whether luminal NO in the intestine is increased in infective gastroenteritis. Rectal gas was sampled in 17 patients with gastroenteritis and 10 healthy volunteers, with balloon catheters made of 100% silicone and analyzed for NO by chemiluminescence. Plasma nitrate and nitrite levels were determined by capillary electrophoresis. Rectal NO was (mean+/-SEM) 9441+/-3126 parts per billion (ppb) in the patients and 74+/-13 ppb in controls (P<.0001). There was no individual overlap. Plasma nitrite but not nitrate was significantly increased in patients compared with controls. These data indicate that luminal NO is greatly increased in gastroenteritis. The high levels of NO are easily measurable by rectal sampling, and measurement of luminal NO seems to be useful for evaluating local NO production in the gut in health and disease.