الفهرس 
Introduction & Aim of workOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Background: Nitric oxide is an important regulator of pulmonary vascular tone. So, its role in pulmonary hypertension needs to be elucidated. The current study aims to determine the plasma nitric oxide concentration measured as circulating nitrite and nitrate levels in patients with schistosomal pulmonary hypertension. Subjects: The present study was consisted of thirty subjects suffering from bilharzial cor pulmonale based on clinical and ECHO findings, none of them has swelling of lower limbs, clinical jaundice, HBV or HCV infections. However, all of them have bilharzial hepatosplenomegaly and clinical and radiological manifestations of pulmonary hypertension. fifteen subjects suffering from simple bilharzial infestation, and fifteen healthy subjects of matched age and sex. EDTA blood sampling and the separated plasma was used for assay of nitrite and nitrate concentrations to all subjects. Results: Plasma nitrite, nitrate and total nitrate (nitrite + nitrate) mean concentrations (umol/L) are significantly lower in bilharzial cor pulmonale group in comparison to normal control and simple bilharzial infestation groups. However, although higher than normal, there is no significant difference of the mean concentrations of plasma nitrite, nitrate and total nitrate in simple bilharzial infestation group in comparison to the control group. Conclusions: Lack of vasodilator substances has been implicated in the development of pulmonary hypertension. Subnormal NO bioavailability plays a role in the pathogenesis of primary pulmonary hypertension. These data are in keeping with the evidence for significant endothelial cell dysfunction in patients with schistosomal pulmonary hypertension.