[Nitric oxide levels in cirrhotic patients].

The aim of this study is to ascertain whether the formation of nitric oxide is argumented in patients with liver cirrhosis and its mechanism. 38 cirrhotic patients and 15 normal controls were studied. Higher plasma levels of NO2-/NO3- (stable end products of nitric oxide), endotoxin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were observed in patients with cirrhosis than in normal controls (P < 0.01, 0.01, 0.01, 0.05). The higher Child-Pugh, the higher plasma NO2-/NO3- level. The concentration of NO2-/NO3- had a positive correlation with that of endotoxin and TNF alpha (r = 0.481, P < 0.01; r = 0.351, P < 0.05). It is suggested that the production of nitric oxide is augmented and could be induced by endotoxin and TNF alpha. Execessive formation of nitric oxide may be related to hyperdynamic circulation in cirrhosis.