Two cases suggesting a role for the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway in neonatal blood pressure regulation.

Abstract

Endogenous nitric oxide produced from L-arginine is a potent vasodilator that may be involved in blood pressure regulation. A male infant with argininosuccinate lyase deficiency, who could not synthesize L-arginine, was hypertensive prior to L-arginine replacement. The infusion of L-arginine resulted in a decrease in blood pressure. A three-fold increase in the dose of L-arginine further decreased blood pressure. On discontinuing the infusion of L-arginine, the patient's blood pressure increased. A female infant undergoing an L-arginine challenge test had a decrease in blood pressure during L-arginine infusion which resolved when the L-arginine infusion was discontinued. These two cases suggest that nitric oxide production from L-arginine may play a role in the normal regulation of systemic blood pressure.

• Authors: C R Fakler, H A Kaftan, L D Nelin
• Journal: Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992) (Acta Paediatr) Vol. 84 Issue 4 Pg. 460-2 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0803-5253 [Print] Norway
• PMID: 7795361 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Nitric Oxide
• Arginine

Topics

• Arginine (metabolism, therapeutic use)
• Argininosuccinic Aciduria
• Blood Pressure (physiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hypertension (drug therapy, etiology)
• Infant, Newborn (physiology)
• Male
• Nitric Oxide (biosynthesis, physiology)