Figure 4

Relationship between NO levels or NO/ET-1 ratios and summed CCTTT repeat length. The association study between summed lengths of the CCTTT repeat and (a) serum NO levels and (b) NO/ET-1 ratios was performed in 16 patients with SSc with PAH (open circles) and 26 patients with SSc without PAH (black triangles). The results of linear regression analysis of the data are represented by the solid line. Serum NO levels and NO/ET-1 ratios were significantly correlated with summed CCTTT repeat lengths (r = 0.51, P < 0.01; and r = 0.83, P < 0.0001, respectively). ET, endothelin; NO, nitric oxide; PAH, pulmonary arterial hypertension; SSc, systemic sclerosis.