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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
04:44
Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Exhaled nitric oxide levels in systemic sclerosis with and without pulmonary involvement
Mario Malerba1, Alessandro Radaeli, Beatrice Ragnoli
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Brescia, 1 Divisione di Medicina Interna, Spedali Civili, Pzza Spedali Civili 1, 25100 Brescia, Italy. malerba@med.unibs.it
Chest
|June 7, 2007
Summary
Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) is higher in systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients without lung issues. Lower NO levels in SSc patients indicate pulmonary involvement, including interstitial lung disease or pulmonary hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Rheumatology
- Biomarkers
Background:
- Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease with frequent, often fatal, pulmonary complications like pulmonary hypertension (PH) and interstitial lung disease (ILD).
- Exhaled nitric oxide (NO) levels have been proposed as a potential predictor for the development of these pulmonary complications in SSc.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure exhaled NO concentrations in patients with SSc.
- To investigate the relationship between exhaled NO levels and the presence of pulmonary involvement, specifically ILD and PH, in SSc patients.
Main Methods:
- Fifty SSc patients and 40 healthy controls underwent measurements of exhaled NO using a chemiluminescence analyzer.
- Pulmonary function tests, high-resolution CT scans, and Doppler echocardiography were performed to assess lung involvement and PH.
Main Results:
- Exhaled NO concentrations were significantly higher in SSc patients compared to healthy controls (p = 0.02).
- Patients with ILD and/or PH exhibited significantly lower exhaled NO levels than those without PH (p < 0.01).
- A significant inverse correlation was observed between pulmonary artery systolic pressure and exhaled NO concentration (r = -0.5, p < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- Exhaled NO levels are lower in SSc patients who have developed lung involvement (ILD/PH) compared to those without these complications.
- SSc patients without ILD or PH demonstrate higher exhaled NO values than healthy individuals, suggesting a complex role for NO in SSc pathogenesis.
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