Comparison of serum nitric oxide levels in active juvenile rheumatoid arthritis with those of patients in remission.

Thirty-four children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis were studied for surrogate markers of increased nitric oxide (NO) production by spectrophotometry. Mean levels of reactive nitrogen intermediates and citrulline levels were higher in patients with active disease than in children with partial and complete remission. A significant correlation was also found between clinical indices of inflammation, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, modified Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire scores, and surrogate markers of increased NO production.