Association of Circulating Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Levels with Phosphataemia in Patients on Haemodialysis

Abstract

The amount of evidence indicates that hyperphosphataemia (HP) can induce endothelial damage and significantly impair endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression. There are no clinical studies that have assessed HP and its correlation with circulating eNOS concentration in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Our preliminary study aimed to evaluate the relationship between plasma inorganic phosphorus (P) levels and circulating plasma eNOS concentration in patients on haemodialysis (HD). A total of 50 patients on HD were enrolled to the study. They were divided into groups according to the tertiles of P. The examined HD group was also analysed and compared with controls as a whole group; then, the group was divided into patients with and without dyslipidaemia (D) as well as into those with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM). A total of 26 age-matched healthy volunteers were included in the study as the control group. The plasma levels of eNOS in HD patients are reduced in comparison to those in healthy subjects. There was no difference in plasma eNOS concentrations between HD patients with type 2 DM and those without DM as well as between those with D and without D. In the entire group of HD patients, there were positive correlations between circulating levels of eNOS and plasma P concentrations. In HD patients with D, higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure were accompanied by decreased plasma eNOS concentrations. In conclusion, HP and high blood pressure appear to decrease the circulating eNOS levels. These findings demonstrate an additional negative impact of HP on eNOS activity.