The deterioration of endothelial function, marked by an imbalance between endothelium-dependent relaxing and constricting factors, plays a crucial role in stroke pathogenesis. Nitric oxide (NO), a key endothelium-derived relaxing factor, has vasodilating, antithrombogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties. Research indicates a neuroprotective role for inhaled NO after ischemia, but the optimal dose for stroke patients remains undetermined.
AIM: This study aimed to assess the protective effect of exogenous NO, administered via the TIANOX device, on vascular endothelium in ischemic stroke patients during rehabilitation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 21 patients recovering from ischemic stroke (main group: 10 patients, 56.9 ± 8.9 years; control group: 11 patients, 57.2 ± 8.8 years). The main group received 8-10 inhalations of a gas mixture containing 20 ppm NO for 20 minutes, alongside standard rehabilitation. The control group received rehabilitation without NO. Endothelial function was assessed using flow-dependent vasodilation of the brachial artery (BA). The study was approved by the Ethics Committee (FCBRN, № 09/30-05-23, May 30, 2023).
RESULTS: The main group showed a non-significant increase in BA diameter (3.68 ± 0.64 mm), while the control group showed a decrease (3.09 ± 0.87 mm). Although the control group’s average endothelial shear velocity increased by 13%, this was not statistically significant (p = 0.753).
CONCLUSION: The increase in BA diameter observed in the main group suggests a potential protective effect of exogenous NO delivered via the TIANOX device on vascular endothelium. This may be due to the deposition of NO in the body. Further research with a larger sample size and subgroup analysis is necessary to confirm these findings