Cited 50 times since 1996 (1.7 per year) source: EuropePMC The Journal of infectious diseases, Volume 174, Issue 1, 1 1 1996, Pages 120-126 The role of nitric oxide in bacterial meningitis in children. Kornelisse RF, Hoekman K, Visser JJ, Hop WC, Huijmans JG, van der Straaten PJ, van der Heijden AJ, Sukhai RN, Neijens HJ, de Groot R
To investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) in bacterial meningitis, concentrations in serum, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), or both of the precursor (L-arginine) and degradation products of NO (nitrate, nitrite) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha were measured in 35 patients and 30 controls. CSF nitrate levels were significantly elevated, mainly due to increased blood-brain barrier permeability, and are therefore not a good parameter for gauging endogenous NO production in the CSF compartment. CSF NO/nitrite levels were significantly elevated in patients. NO/nitrite levels decreased over time (26%/6 h; P < .001). CSF levels of NO/nitrite correlated with those of TNF-alpha (r = .55; P = .001) and glucose (r = -.43; P = .02). CSF levels of L-arginine were lower in patients than in controls (P < .001). Dexamethasone did not exert a significant effect on NO metabolism. In conclusion, enhanced NO production may contribute to anaerobic glycolysis and neurologic damage in bacterial meningitis.
