Effects of oral L-arginine on the foetal condition and neonatal outcome in preeclampsia: a preliminary report

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2006 Aug;99(2):146-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1742-7843.2006.pto_468.x.

Abstract

Estimation of the influence of oral supplementation with low dose of L-arginine on biophysical profile, foeto-placental circulation and neonatal outcome in preeclampsia. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, clinical trial. Oral therapy with 3 g of L-arginine daily or placebo as a supplement to standard therapy. Eighty-three preeclamptic women, randomly assigned to the L-arginine (n=42) or placebo (n=41) groups; [n=30 (L-arginine) and n=31 (placebo) ended the study, respectively]. Foetal gain chances due to ultrasound biometry, biophysical profile, Doppler velocimetry of pulsatility indices of umbilical and middle cerebral arteries, cerebro-placental ratio, as well as differences in duration of pregnancy and clinical data of newborn. L-arginine treatment transitory accelerated foetal gain and improved biophysical profile. Starting from 3rd week of therapy, the umbilical artery pulsatility indices values were significantly lower in L-arginine than in placebo group. Moreover, treatment with L-arginine caused significant increase of middle cerebral artery pulsatility indices and cerebro-placental ratio values. Latency was longer in L-arginine group. Neonates delivered in the L-arginine group revealed higher Apgar score. Supplementary treatment with oral L-arginine seems to be promising in improving foetal well-being and neonatal outcome as well as in prolonging pregnancy complicated with preeclampsia. However, these benefits require confirmation in more-powered, larger studies.

Publication types

  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Administration, Oral
  • Adult
  • Arginine / administration & dosage
  • Arginine / therapeutic use*
  • Birth Weight / drug effects*
  • Cesarean Section / statistics & numerical data
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Double-Blind Method
  • Female
  • Fetal Development / drug effects*
  • Fetal Development / physiology
  • Fetal Monitoring / methods
  • Fetal Weight / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / drug effects
  • Middle Cerebral Artery / physiology
  • Natural Childbirth / statistics & numerical data
  • Pre-Eclampsia / physiopathology*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Trimester, First
  • Pulsatile Flow / drug effects
  • Pulsatile Flow / physiology
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal / methods
  • Umbilical Arteries / diagnostic imaging
  • Umbilical Arteries / drug effects
  • Umbilical Arteries / physiology

Substances

  • Arginine