Abstract Introduction: There are many reasons to believe that the nitric oxide/guanosine 3’5’ - cyclic monophosphate (or NO/cGMP) pathway on vasoplegic states is underestimated. To study indigo carmine (IC) as an alternative to methylene blue was the investigation rationale. Methods: The IC (3mg/kg intravenous infusion) study protocol included five experimental groups; 1) Control group — saline was injected at 0 and 10 minutes; 2) IC group — IC was injected at 0 and saline at 10 minutes; 3) compound 48/80 (C48/80) group — C48/80 was injected at 0 minute and saline at 10 minutes; 4) C48/80 + IC group — C48/80 was injected at 0 minute and IC at 10 minutes; and 5) IC + C48/80 group — IC was injected at 0 minute and C48/80 at 10 minutes. The studies were carried out by registering and measuring hemodynamic and blood gasometric parameters, including continuous cardiac output. Results: 1) The effects of the drugs (IC and C48/80) were more evident in the first 20 minutes of recording; 2) hypotensive responses were more pronounced in the C48/80 groups; 3) IC isolated or applied before C48/80 caused transient pulmonary hypertension; and 4) after the first 20 minutes, the pressure responses showed stability with apparent hypotension more pronounced in the C48/80 groups. Clinical observations showed significant hemodynamic instability and catastrophic anaphylactic reactions (agitation, pulmonary hypertension, severe bronchospasm, urticaria, high-intensity cyanosis, violent gastric hypersecretion, and ascites). Conclusion: A global results analysis showed differences between groups only in the first 20 minutes of the experiments.

Contexto Observa-se relativa falta de estudos sobre nitrito (NO2-) exalado como biomarcador de lesão, após transplante de fígado. Objetivo Verificar possíveis diferenças e correlações entre os níveis de nitrito (NO2-), medido no plasma e condensado do exalado pulmonar de pacientes com cirrose e transplante de fígado. Método Sessenta pacientes adultos, masculinos, idades entre 27 e 67 anos, foram divididos em três grupos: grupo controle composto por 15 voluntários saudáveis, grupo cirrose, composto por 15 voluntários e, grupo de transplante, composto por 30 voluntários. As dosagens plasmáticas e do condensado do exalado pulmonar foram realizadas por quimioluminescência. Resultados A análise os valores de NO2- plasmático não mostrou diferença entre os grupos. As comparações entre grupos cirrose e controle, controle e transplantados e cirrose e transplante não foram significativas. As medidas em amostras de condensado do exalado pulmonar entre os três grupos não evidenciaram diferenças estatísticas. Ao comparar as amostras dos grupos controle e cirrótico, controle e transplantado e cirróticos e transplantados, não houve alterações significativas nas concentrações de NO2-. Conclusão Não foram encontradas correlações entre plasma e condensado do exalado pulmonar, sugerindo que o NO exalado reflete mais as condições respiratórias locais de liberação de NO do que a circulação sistêmica.

Context There is a relative lack of studies about exhaled nitrite (NO2-) concentrations in cirrhotic and transplanted patients. Objective Verify possible differences and correlations between the levels of NO2-, measured in plasma and exhaled breath condensate collected from patients with cirrhosis and liver transplant. Method Sixty adult male patients, aged between 27 and 67 years, were subdivided into three groups: a control group comprised of 15 healthy volunteers, a cirrhosis group composed of 15 volunteers, and a transplant group comprised of 30 volunteers. The NO2- concentrations were measured by chemiluminescence. Results 1) The analysis of plasma NO2- held among the three groups showed no statistical significance. 2) The comparison between cirrhotic and control groups, control and transplanted and cirrhotic and transplanted was not statistically significant. 3) The measurements performed on of NO2- exhaled breath condensate among the three groups showed no statistical difference. 4) When comparing the control group samples and cirrhotic, control and transplanted and cirrhotic and transplanted, there was no significant changes in the concentrations of NO2-. Conclusion No correlations were found between plasma and exhaled NO2-, suggesting that the exhaled NO2- is more reflective of local respiratory NO release than the systemic circulation.