Transplantologiya 2014

Parameter	Normal value
Day
1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	7th	10th
NOx, mcmol/L	18.61 (17.70-23.62)	67.73 * (50.48-87.30)	72.05 * (71.02-103.63)	79.49 * (63.87-112.80)	54.98 * (52.78-91.09)	45.77 * (23.49-91.75)	13.37 (11.69-110.29)	17.38 (15.11-44.94)
MetHb,%	1.3 (1.0-1.4)	1.5 (1.3-1.5)	1.5 (1.4-1.7)	1.0 (1.0-1.2)	1.1 (0.9-1.3)	1.0 (0.8-1.1)	0.7 (0.7-0.9)	0.8 (0.7-1.0)

* P <0.05 compared to normal.

 

Figure. Dynamics of NOx levels in patients after transplantation
Our data are consistent with the data presented by W.Steudel et al. who showed that a significant methemoglobinemia or NO₂ production were rare events in the patients on iNO therapy in doses less than or equal to 80 ppm [12]. Passing through an alveolar-capillary membrane, iNO may interact with oxygen producing NOx, or bond with oxyhemoglobin to produce not only NOx, but also MetHb. Considering iNO metabolism in a human body, we studied the relationships between iNO administration and the whole blood MetHb level, and serum NOx level in patients after LT.

In the total study group of patients after LT we observed the following statistically significant positive correlations: between the iNO administration and NOx levels, between the iNO administration and MetHb levels, between the levels of NOx and MetHb (Table 2). These data suggest an ongoing iNO metabolism in the body with the production of NOx and MetHb.

 

Table 2. Correlations between the iNO administration and NOx and MetHb levels in a group of patients after lung transplantation.