Nitric Oxide Bioavailability in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2015-06-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
More patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) die from cardiovascular
disease than direct pulmonary complications. Inflammation and oxidative stress,
characteristic in COPD, are likely contributors to the reduction in nitric oxide (NO)
bioavailability and vascular endothelial dysfunction in COPD patients; however, this has yet
to be determined. Thus, the overall objective of this proposal is to identify the role of NO
bioavailability in contributing to vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with COPD and
to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms involved. Our central hypothesis is that
inflammation and oxidative stress, both independently, contribute to the reduction in NO
bioavailability and vascular endothelial dysfunction in patients with COPD.