Pulmonary hypertension and nitric oxide depletion in sickle cell disease

H. Franklin Bunn, David G. Nathan, George J. Dover, Robert P. Hebbel, Orah S. Platt, Wendell F. Rosse, Russell E. Ware

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

170 Scopus citations

Abstract

During the past decade a large body of experimental and clinical studies has focused on the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) depletion by plasma hemoglobin in the microcirculation plays a central role in the pathogenesis of many manifestations of sickle cell disease (SCD), particularly pulmonary hypertension. We have carefully examined those studies and believe that the conclusions drawn from them are not adequately supported by the data. We agree that NO depletion may well play a role in the pathophysiology of other hemolytic states such as paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria, in which plasma hemoglobin concentrations are often at least an order of magnitude greater than in SCD. Accordingly, we conclude that clinical trials in SCD designed to increase the bioavailability of NO or association studies in which SCD clinical manifestations are related to plasma hemoglobin via its surrogates should be viewed with caution.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)687-692
Number of pages6
JournalBlood
Volume116
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 5 2010

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Immunology
  • Hematology
  • Cell Biology

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