Tuberc Respir Dis.  2007 Apr;62(4):308-313. 10.4046/trd.2007.62.4.308.

Correlation of Nitric Oxide and Corticosteroids Along the Course of Sepsis

• Lee KS
• Kim YS
• Lee HN
• Park JH
• Oh YJ
• Sheen SS
• Choi YH
• Park KJ
• Hwang SC

• KMID: 1970231
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2007.62.4.308

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The nitric oxide (NO) released by inducible NO synthase (iNOS) plays an important role in the pathophysiology of sepsis. Corticosteroids also play a role in the hemodynamic and inflammatory reactions in sepsis. Both have been shown to have a relationship theoretically, but their correlation and clinical impacts have rarely been evaluated.
METHODS
26 patients with sepsis and 14 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. The initial random plasma total NO and the serum cortisol levels were measured. The same measurements were serially carried out on the 3rd, 5th, and 7th days.
RESULTS
The initial total plasma levels of NO and cortisol were higher in the patients with sepsis than in the healthy controls. The total NO levels were higher in patients with severe sepsis than in the those with mild sepsis. There was a correlation between the total NO and cortisol level throughout the study.
CONCLUSION
In patients with sepsis, the levels of plasma NO and cortisol were well correlated during the first week of sepsis, which suggests an interrelationship. However, the clinical and pathogenetic implications await further evaluation.

Keyword

Sepsis; Septic shock; Nitric oxide; Nitric oxide synthase; Corticosteroids; Cortisol; Correlation

MeSH Terms

Adrenal Cortex Hormones*
Hemodynamics
Humans
Hydrocortisone
Nitric Oxide Synthase
Nitric Oxide*
Plasma
Sepsis*
Shock, Septic
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Hydrocortisone
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 Comparison of initial levels of (A) plasma total NO, and (B) serum cortisol between sepsis patients and the controls.

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  Figure 2 Comparison of initial levels of plasma NO between patients with severe and mild sepsis.

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  Figure 3 Correlations between levels of initial plasma NO and other parameters; (A) serum cortisol levels, (B) serum lactate levels, and (C) APACHE II scores in patients with sepsis.

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