Objective: To assess the value of nitric oxide (NO) production on the disease activity in children with Henoch-Sch6nlein purpura (HSP) by measuring serum nitrate levels and urinary nitrate excretion as an indicator for NO production.
Methods: The study group consisted of 25 patients and 20 healthy children. We measured serum nitrate, urinary excretion of nitrate, and CRP levels in the acute phase and after remission.
Results: Serum nitrate levels in the acute phase of the disease were found to be increased compared to the remission phase (28.67 +/- 10.3 mmol/l. 14.16 +/- 2.02 mmol/l) (p < 0.001) and the control group (13.15 +/- 2.28 mmol/l) (p < 0.001). Urinary nitrate excretion in the acute phase of the patients (15.32 +/- 9 mmol/mg) was increased compared to that in the remission phase (8.26 +/- 4.3 mmol/mg) (p = 0.016) and in the control group (7.24 +/- 4.9 mmol/mg) (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: Serum NO and urinary nitrate excretion were found to be elevated in patients with HSP and this increase was associated with activation of the disease rather than its severity. These findings suggest a role for NO in the pathogenesis of HSP, but nitric oxide in HSP should be further studied in order to elucidate the pathophysiology of the disease.