LEVELS OF NITRIC OXIDE METABOLITIES AND PROINFLAMMATORY CYTOKINES IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE RHEUMATIC FEVER AND RHEUMATIC HEART DISEASE
Summary. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ), nitric oxide metabolities (nitrite, nitrate) and superoxide dismutase activity were measured in 74 patients (44 children and 30 adult) with acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease. The increase of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IFN-γ) and nitric oxide metabolities in 90.9% children with acute rheumatic fever were shown and it might serve as a compensatory mechanism. The elevation of the plasma nitrate and nitrite middle content in children and adult with chronic rheumatic heart disease was investigated, but the decrease of NO metabolites in 25.0% children point on the defect of nitric oxide system. The activation of nitric oxide metabolities in patients with rheumatic heart disease and decrease of superoxide dismutase activity may increase oxidative stress and play a role in the progression of disease.
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