Summary
The purpose of this study was to evaluate nitric oxide (NO) activity in patients with uncomplicated malaria. Lipopolysaccharide and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) are potent inducers of NO by inducing production of NO synthase. NO activity was determined by measuring serum levels of nitrite/nitrate (metabolic end products of NO), and IFN-γ in patients with uncomplicated malaria, mostly caused byPlasmodium falciparum. Neither serum levels of nitrite/nitrate nor of IFN-γ were significantly increased in patients with uncomplicated malaria, especially in patients withP. falciparum infection, and in those with high parasitaemia. These results show that NO cannot play a role in uncomplicated malaria, and it is still debatable if NO production in this infection has beneficial or detrimental effects.
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Torre, D., Ferrario, G., Matteelli, A. et al. Levels of circulating nitrate/nitrite and gamma interferon not increased in uncomplicated malaria. Infection 26, 301–303 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02962252
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02962252