Serum nitric oxide level correlates with serum brain natriuretic peptide and whole blood viscosity in hemodialysis patients

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is tonically synthesized by the vascular endothelium and known as a marker of vasodilatation and blood flow. As NO has a critical role in hemodynamics, NO may be associated with other hemodynamics-related factors including atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and whole blood viscosity (WBV). It has been reported that serum NO level increased in patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, there are few reports about the relationship between NO and hemodynamic parameters in hemodialysis patients. Objective: We investigated the associations between serum levels of NO and other hemodynamics-related factors such as ANP, BNP and WBV in patients with hemodialysis. Methods: NO, ANP, and BNP levels before hemodialysis were measured using ELISA method. We measured WBV in pre- and post-dialysis. Results: Mean serum levels of NO, ANP, and BNP were 13.97 +/- 10.34 mu g/mL, 198.85 +/- 61.56 pg/mL, and 1233.32 +/- 280.81 pg/mL, respectively in patients with hemodialysis. The mean WBV values at shear rates of 1, 5, and 300 s(-1) for pre-dialyses were 168.5 +/- 62.5, 76.9 +/- 20.6, and 33.3 +/- 3.8 mP, respectively. Serum NO level was positively correlated with WBV at shear rates of 1, 5, and 300 s(-1) at pre- and post-hemodialysis. There is a correlation between serum nitrite levels and the change of SBV during hemodialysis. Serum nitrite levels correlated with the serum BNP levels. ANP levels have a negative correlation with pre-dialytic WBV. However, BNP levels did not correlate with WBV during hemodialysis. Conclusions: WBV is linked to an imbalance in serum vasoactive substances in hemodialysis patients and can cause significant hemodynamic disturbance.