The effect of low-dose nitroglycerin on oxidative stress in patients with hypertension undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery

Objective To evaluate the effect of low-dose nitroglycerin on oxidative stress and apelin-12 levels in hypertension patients undergoing laparoscopic gynecological surgery. Methods Eighty patients with hypertension who underwent laparoscopic total hysterectomy were recruited and divided into the nitroglycerin group and control group by random number table method. From the beginning of pneumoperitoneum to the end of operation, patients in the nitroglycerin group were pumped with nitroglycerin （0.10-0.25 μg/（kg·min））, and those in the control group were pumped with the same amount of normal saline. Peripheral elbow venous blood was drawn before operation （T0）, 30 min after pneumoperitoneum （T1）, and 1 h after operation （T2）. The changes of serum levels of Ang-Ⅱ, IL-6, apelin-12, and ST-T were compared between two groups. Results With the increase of pneumoperitoneum time, the serum levels of Ang-Ⅱ and IL-6 were gradually elevated, whereas the serum levels of apelin-12 were steadily decreased within each group. Compared with the control group, the increase of serum levels of Ang-Ⅱ and IL-6 at T1 and T2 were significantly decreased and the decrease of serum level of apelin-12 was also significantly decreased in the nitroglycerin group （all P < 0.05）. The incidence of ST-T abnormality had no statistical significance between two groups （P > 0.05）. Conclusions Low-dose nitroglycerin can alleviate the stress response of patients with hypertension undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy. Apelin-12 may coordinate with NO to delay the incidence and development of oxidative stress.