Two cases suggesting a role for the L-arginine nitric oxide pathway in neonatal blood pressure regulation.
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.
Fakler
C R
CR
Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
Kaftan
H A
HA
Nelin
L D
LD
D001120:Arginine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D056807:Argininosuccinic Aciduria; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine