Nitrite plasma levels in normolipemic and hypercholesterolemic arteriopathics after vasoactive and lipid-lowering treatment.

BACKGROUND

The authors studied the plasmatic levels of nitrites, stable end-products of nitric oxide in arteriopathic patients before and after vasoactive and lipid-lowering treatment.

METHODS

The series consisted of 63 subjects (mean age 64 +/- 9) suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease; 21 subjects with total cholesterol (TC) lower than 200 mg/dl were considered as normolipemic (group A); 24 subjects with TC ranging between 200 and 240 mg/dl were considered as mild hypercholesterolemic (group B); 18 subjects with TC higher than 240 mg/dl were consider as severe hypercholesterolemic (group C). All the patients were examined before and after 15 and 30 days of a vasoactive treatment (calciparine, aspirin, buflomedil and pentoxiphylline); group B after vasoactive and diet (NCEP phase 1) treatment and group C after vasoactive, diet and drug (simvastatin) treatment. Nitrite plasma levels were determined by the Gutman and Hollywood colorimetric method.

RESULTS

In group A the basal value of nitrites was sharply (p < 0.05) lower than controls; after vasoactive treatment a significant increase (p < 0.05), was observed after 15 and 30 days; in group B the basal value was higher than controls; after 15 days a significant increase (p < 0.5) was noted, but a regression was found after 30 days. Also in group C the basal value of nitrites was higher (p < 0.05) than controls; after treatment significant changes were not found.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase of nitrites in group A may be due to an improved endothelial function; this phenomenon, less appreciable in group B and no longer evident in group C may depend on the lipid-lowering treatment.