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Nitric Oxide Level Profile in Human Liver Transplantation

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to monitor nitric oxide blood levels at various times intraoperatively and following liver transplantation in humans. Nitric oxide production was assessed directly as circulating nitrosyl-hemoglobin adducts by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy in 22 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation. Two significant peaks in nitrosyl-hemoglobin levels were detected at 5 and 60 min after reperfusion (5.02 ± 3.33 arbitrary units and 5.75 ± 4.19, respectively, vs 3.33 ± 2.28 under basal state; P < 0.05 for both comparisons). Postoperative nitrosyl-hemoglobin levels remained elevated, up to 5.42 ± 0.89 arbitrary units (P < 0.05 vs basal values). Neither soluble intercellular adhesion molecule- 1 or soluble endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule concentrations were altered intraoperatively. Only the former was significantly raised after transplantation. Neutrophil elastase levels showed an early increase and remained high throughout surgery, returning to basal values after transplantation. No correlations were found among studied parameters. These data suggest that nitric oxide may play a role in ischemia–reperfusion phases in human liver transplantation. Mechanisms other than leukocyte-endothelial adhesion and neutrophil activation seem to affect nitric oxide production under these conditions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of General Medicine 6, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy

    Stefania Battista, Fabrizio Bar, Cristina Pollet, Mauro Torchio & Gianpaolo Molino

  2. Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy

    Giulio Mengozzi

  3. Liver Transplant Unit, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy

    Elisabetta Cerutti & Mauro Salizzoni

  4. Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Turin, Orbassano (Turin), Italy

    Fiorella Biasi & Giuseppe Poli

  5. Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy

    Guido Cavalli

Authors
  1. Stefania Battista
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  2. Giulio Mengozzi
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  3. Fabrizio Bar
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  4. Elisabetta Cerutti
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  5. Cristina Pollet
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  7. Fiorella Biasi
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  11. Gianpaolo Molino
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Battista, S., Mengozzi, G., Bar, F. et al. Nitric Oxide Level Profile in Human Liver Transplantation. Dig Dis Sci 47, 528–534 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1017903716514

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