Nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and sFas antigen levels in patients with multiple organ failure.

: We assessed the plasma levels of nitrite/nitrate (NOx) and soluble Fas antigen (sFas) in patients with multiple organ failure (MOF). The NOx levels showed high levels in MOF patients with sepsis and without infection. A significant difference was not seen between the MOF patients complicated by sepsis and uncomplicated by infection, although the NOx levels in the former group tended to be higher. There was a significant correlation between NOx levels and sFas levels in MOF patients. Both sFas and NOx levels were high during MOF, and rapidly decreased when MOF was relieved. These findings suggest that sFas and NOx contribute to the development of MOF.