Abstract:Objective To study the change of nitric oxide (NO), nitric oxide synthetase (NOS), malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) level in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of children with viral encephalitis.Methods CSF NO, NOS, MDA and SOD were measured using colorimetric methods and the levels were compared between acute and recovery stages in children with viral encephalits.Results CSF NO ( 59.8±15.0 μmol/L),NOS (2.73±0.59 μmol/L) and SOD (28.9±12.9 NU/ml) levels in the acute stage were higher than those observed either in the recovery stage of the patients or in the normal control children (P<0.01). MDA (13.2±2.20 nmol/ml) reduced in the recovery stage but the level still was higher than normal (P<0.01). NO and MDA levels were higher in the patients with positive MRI examination than in the patients with negative MRI (P<0.01). Conclusions NO may be involved in the formation of cerebral edema and the destruction process of myelin sheath in the viral encephalitis. Thus, appropriate mannitol and antioxidative therapy for the encephalitis has to be taken into consideration.
