Researchers disagree as to the importance of nitric oxide (NO) in preeclampsia. Many
researchers have alluded to NO's possible primary or secondary role in the development of
preeclampsia, but few have correlated the dysfunction of nitric oxide production with the
other metabolic derangements seen in this condition. This paper will review the evidence
that the primary dysfunction in preeclampsia is a relative deficiency of available NO
(secondary to oxidative degradation) and an excess of peroxynitrite (ONOO−). The …