[Use of arginine in intruterine growth retardation (IUGR). Authors' experience].
BACKGROUND
Asymmetrical intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) represents a foetal mechanism, consequent to placental insufficiency, due to many factors: genetic, vascular, malformative. At present, no therapy is really efficient. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy, in these pathological conditions, of the use of L-arginine. This amino-acid improves GH-RH incretion, with consequent increase of plasmatic GH influencing somatic growth. L-arginine moreover, is the obligatory precursor for nitric oxide (NO) enzymatic synthesis (Endothelial-derived relaxing factor). NO helps the prolapse of smooth musculature and, consequently, the improvement of placental blood circulation.


METHODS
On the basis of the double activity of NO, vasodilatation and GH-RH induction, 43 pregnant women have been treated suffering from IUGR, diagnosed by ultrasonic examination an by evaluation of Doppler velocimetry values, from 30th week of gestation, administering L-arginine (Bioarginina, 6 g per os/day). Periodically, USG and Doppler velocimetry examinations were performed to evalue foetal growth and possible increase of peripheral vessels resistance.


RESULTS
32 patients improved the clinical course of pregnancy: 19 recovered the whole retardation; 9 only one week; 4 had premature delivery after 36 weeks with foetal weight coincident with gestational age.


CONCLUSIONS
The positive results suggest the prosecution of clinical studies in order to attempt the achievement of an effective pharmacological treatment of IUGR.
Lampariello
C
C
Istituto di Ginecologia ed Ostetricia, Università degli Studi Federico II, Napoli.
De Blasio
A
A
Merenda
A
A
Graziano
E
E
Michalopoulou
A
A
Bruno
P
P
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000596:Amino Acids; D001120:Arginine