In this study, we investigated first; the possible involvement of nitric oxide and antioxidant enzyme level in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and second we investigated serum nitrite-nitrate and antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profiles (total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, trygliceride) to determine the relationship between these parameters in atherosclerosis. 13 patients with coronary heart disease, 18 patients with essential hypertension and 16 age-matched health subjects were taken into this study. Plasma nitrite, nitrate levels were measured by Griess reaction, erythrocyter superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were determined by the methods of Misra&Fridovich and Aebi, respectively. Serum lipid analysis were performed in the autoanalyser. A decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and nitrite&nitrate levels, along with an increase in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride values were found in patients with hypertension. There was a positive correlation between nitrite and HDL-cholesterol levels in the same patient group. A decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and nitrate levels and no significant difference in nitrate, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels were detected in patients with coronary heart disease. On the other hand, catalase activities in both of the groups did not show any significant difference. These findings focus the attention to interactions between nitric oxide, antioxidant status and atherogenesis and propose that nitric oxide may be important physiopathologically in essential hypertension and atherosclerotic heart failure.

In this study, we investigated first; the possible involvement of nitric oxide and antioxidant enzyme level in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension and second we investigated serum nitrite-nitrate and antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid profiles (total, HDL and LDL cholesterol, trygliceride) to determine the relationship between these parameters in atherosclerosis. 13 patients with coronary heart disease, 18 patients with essential hypertension and 16 age-matched health subjects were taken into this study. Plasma nitrite, nitrate levels were measured by Griess reaction, erythrocyter superoxide dismutase and catalase activities were determined by the methods of Misra&Fridovich and Aebi, respectively. Serum lipid analysis were performed in the autoanalyser. A decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and nitrite&nitrate levels, along with an increase in total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride values were found in patients with hypertension. There was a positive correlation between nitrite and HDL-cholesterol levels in the same patient group. A decrease in superoxide dismutase activity and nitrate levels and no significant difference in nitrate, LDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride levels were detected in patients with coronary heart disease. On the other hand, catalase activities in both of the groups did not show any significant difference. These findings focus the attention to interactions between nitric oxide, antioxidant status and atherogenesis and propose that nitric oxide may be important physiopathologically in essential hypertension and atherosclerotic heart failure.