ABSTRACT
Over the last 15 years, the nitric oxide (NO) literature has experienced exponential growth (from 7 papers on endogenous NO in 1987 to over 45,000 in 2002). The link between inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heart failure is accepted as an important association and is opening potential therapeutic avenues for the treatment of heart failure. Most literature suggests a deleterious effect of iNOS on heart function in dilated cardiomyopathy, ischemic cardiomyopathy, septic shock, cardiac allograft rejection, and viral and autoimmune myocarditis, although some controversial arguments continue.
