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Relation Between Plasma Nitric Oxide Levels and Diabetic Retinopathy

Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology volume 50, pages 465–468 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in homeostatic vasodilation and the regulation of blood flow. On the other hand, excess release of NO causes various vascular complications. There are only a few reports on the relationship between plasma NO levels and microvascular complications, especially diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with type 2 diabetes. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between plasma NO levels and DR.

Methods

In a prospective study, blood samples were obtained from 36 patients with diabetes and no diabetic retinopathy (NDR), 43 patients with nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 18 patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and 40 subjects without diabetes mellitus, who served as controls. The levels of plasma NOx (nitrite and nitrate), the stable metabolites of NO, were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with the Griess method.

Results

The plasma NOx levels were 92.8 ± 16.0, 70.2 ± 6.8, 90.3 ± 9.1, and 53.8 ± 6.1 µmol/l in patients with NDR, NPDR, or PDR, and in the controls, respectively. The plasma NOx levels in the three diabetic groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P < 0.05 in each case).

Conclusion

The increased plasma NO levels in patients with type 2 diabetes indicate that NO may be associated with the pathogenesis of DR. Jpn J Ophthalmol 2006;50:465–468 © Japanese Ophthalmological Society 2006

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology, Asahikawa Medical College, Asahikawa, Japan

    Naohiro Izumi, Taiji Nagaoka, Fumihiko Mori, Eiichi Sato, Atsushi Takahashi & Akitoshi Yoshida

  2. Departments of Ophthalmology and Surgery, Scott & White Eye Institute, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Temple, TX, USA

    Taiji Nagaoka

Authors
  1. Naohiro Izumi
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  2. Taiji Nagaoka
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  3. Fumihiko Mori
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  4. Eiichi Sato
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  5. Atsushi Takahashi
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  6. Akitoshi Yoshida
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Taiji Nagaoka.

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Izumi, N., Nagaoka, T., Mori, F. et al. Relation Between Plasma Nitric Oxide Levels and Diabetic Retinopathy. Jpn J Ophthalmol 50, 465–468 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-006-0344-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10384-006-0344-y

Key words

  • diabetic retinopathy
  • Griess method
  • nitric oxide
  • type 2 diabetes