Dynanic Change in Nitric Oxide Concentration in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients with Subarachnoid Hemorrhage Caused by Aneurysms

Objective To explore the dynamic change in nitric oxide concentration in CSF and its relation between it and cerebral vasospasm in the patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage(SAH)caused by aneurysms.Methods The CSF specimen was obtained from57patients with SAH caused by aneurysms on admission and3,5,7,10and14days after the onset of bleeding and from10patients with non-nervous system disease served as control.The nitric oxide concentration was detected by the activated cadmium reduction method.Results The nitric oxide concentration significantly decreased3rd day after SAH compared as the control group,reached the lowest level from7th day to the10th day after SAH and then gradually increased.The nitric oxide concentration was significantly lower in the patients with symptomatic vasospasm than that in the patients with no vasospasm or asymptomatic vasospasm.Conclusion The decrease of nitric oxide in CSF may play an important role in the development of cerebral vasospasm following SAH in the patients with aneurysms.