NOx (nitrite/nitrate) in patients with pediatric nephrotic syndrome.

To better understand the role of nitric oxide (NO) in pediatric nephrotic syndrome, we measured nitrite/nitrate (NOx) [NO2- and NO3-] in serum obtained from patients with several pediatric kidney diseases and investigated the locations of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). NOx in serum showed significantly higher levels than those in healthy controls (mean +/- SE: 297 +/- 55.7 vs. 158 +/- 13.1 pmol/10 microl). There was no significant difference between six patients with frequent relapse and five patients with nonfrequent relapse. The studies with immunostaining of iNOS and nitrotyrosine were negative for glomerulus in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Those findings suggest that NOx might indirectly influence disease progression in nephrotic syndrome.