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Two cases suggesting a role for the L–arginine nitric oxide pathway in neonatal blood pressure regulation
Author(s) -
Fakler CR,
Kaftan HA,
Nelin LD
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.1995.tb13673.x
Subject(s) - arginine , nitric oxide , medicine , blood pressure , arginase , vasodilation , endogeny , argininosuccinate synthase , endocrinology , anesthesia , biochemistry , biology , amino acid
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.