Increased urinary nitrite, a marker of nitric oxide, in active inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) production is increased in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and measurement of NO metabolites may be useful for monitoring disease activity. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To characterise urinary nitrite levels, a stable metabolite of NO, in IBD and to evaluate its potential as a marker of disease activity. METHODS: Twelve-hour urinary nitrites were measured by the microplate assay method in 46 patients with IBD (active; n = 32). Urinary samples from 16 healthy individuals served as controls. RESULTS: Increased levels of urinary nitrites were found in patients with active IBD compared with those with inactive IBD. Twenty-eight out of 32 patients (87.5%) with active IBD had detectable levels of nitrite in their urine as compared with 2/14 (14.3%) patients with inactive IBD. None of the 16 healthy controls had detectable urinary nitrite. Twelve-hour urinary nitrite in active compared with inactive IBD: 5 0.7 versus 0.1+/-0.04 micromol (P < 0.05). There was good correlation between urinary nitrite and some markers of disease activity in IBD such as C-reactive protein and microalbuminuria but not with erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Conclusions: Increased levels of nitrite were detected in urine of patients with active IBD, consistent with increased NO synthesis. This simple assay may be exploited as a potential marker of disease activity in IBD.

Assessment of fractionated exhaled nitric oxide as a biomarker for the treatment of eosinophilic esophagitis

“…Human and animal studies convincingly showed that NO production is up-regulated in IBD and correlates with disease activity. [21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30] In 2002, Koek et al reported that FeNO levels were elevated in IBD patients and correlated with disease activity, 28 suggesting that gastrointestinal inflammation could elevate FeNO levels. None of our patients had IBD.…”

Immunostimulation in the era of the metagenome

“…126 Research has also shown that nitric oxide acts as an effector of the innate immune system targeting adenoviruses and other similar viruses. 127 As a result, during acute infections we see a sudden and dramatic increase in excretion of urinary nitrite, 128 a stable metabolite of nitric oxide 129 . Fever, the body's evolutionarily conserved response to infection, is also accompanied by urinary excretion of creatinine, urea and ammonia.…”

Nitric Oxide, Its Metabolites, and Glutathione System in Children With Chronic Viral Hepatitis В and С

“…При хроническом неяз-венном колите отмечено снижение концентрации NО, причем оно сочетается с интенсификацией перекисных процессов, снижением активности каталазы, что свиде-тельствует об инактивации NО вследствие повышенного образования активных форм кислорода. У больных язвен-ным колитом пул оксида азота существенно увеличен [6]. Содержание оксида азота повышено у детей с болезнью Крона и неспецифическим язвенным колитом [7].…”