AIM To study relationship of injury induced by nitric oxide, oxidation, peroxidation, lipoperoxidation with chronic cholecystitis. METHODS The values of plasma nitric oxide (PNO), plasma vitamin C (P-VC), plasma vitamin E ( P-VE ), plasma β-carotene ( P-β-CAR ), plasma lipoperoxides (P-LPO), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (E-SOD), erythrocyte catalase (ECAT), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (E-GSHPx) activities and erythrocyte lipoperoxides (ELPO) level in 77 patients with chronic cholecystitis and 80 healthy control subjects were determined, differences of the above average values between the patient group and the control group and differences of the average values between preoperative and postoperative patients were analyzed and compared, linear regression and correlation of the disease course with the above determination values as well as the stepwise regression and correlation of the course with the values were analyzed. RESULTS Compared with the control group, the average values of P-NO, P-LPO, E-LPO were significantly increased ( P < 0.01 ), and of P-VC, P-VE, P-β-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px decreased ( P < O. 01 ) in the patient group. The analysis of the linear regression and correlation showed that with prolonging of the course, the values of P-NO, P-LPO and E-LPO in the patients were gradually ascended and the values of P-VC, P-VE, P-β-CAR, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px descended (P < 0. 01 ). The analysis of the stepwise regression and correlation indicated that the correlation of the course with P-NO, P-VE and P-β-CAR values was the closest. Compared with the preoperative patients, the average values of PNO, P-LPO and E-LPO were significantly decreased (P < 0.01 ) and the average values of PVC, E-SOD, E-CAT and E-GSH-Px in postoperative patients increased ( P < 0.01) in postoperative patients. But there was no significant difference in the average values of P-VE, P-W-CAR preoperative and postoperative patients. CONCLUSION Chronic cholecystitis could induce the increase of nitric oxide, oxidation, peroxidation and lipoperoxidation.