Sodium Nitrite Increases Regional Blood Flow in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease.

Patients with sickle cell disease have decreased nitric oxide bioavailability, and studies from several groups have confirmed a blunted response to various NO donors in humans and mice with sickle cell disease. Recently published studies show that nitrite induces vasodilation in humans, apparently mediated by conversion of nitrite to NO. This study is designed to determine the potential therapeutic effect of intra-arterial nitrite infusion to...