Increased L-citrulline/L-arginine plasma ratio in severe preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate nitric oxide (NO) production in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension or preeclampsia and in controls.


METHODS
Four groups of pregnant women were included: 17 patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension, ten with mild or moderate preeclampsia, 17 with severe preeclampsia, and 44 normotensive women matched for weeks of gestation at blood sampling with the cases. Plasma levels of L-citrulline and L-arginine were measured by using high-performance liquid chromatography.


RESULTS
The mean plasma levels of L-citrulline and the ratio of L-citrulline to L-arginine, which reflects NO production, were higher in women with severe preeclampsia than in controls, patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension, and patients with mild or moderate preeclampsia.


CONCLUSIONS
Nitric oxide production is enhanced in severe preeclampsia, possibly as a compensatory phenomenon for the increased synthesis and release of vasoconstrictors and platelet-aggregating agents.
Benedetto
C
C
Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University of Turin, Italy. chbened@tin.it
Marozio
L
L
Neri
I
I
Giarola
M
M
Volpe
A
A
Facchinetti
F
F
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000097:blood*; D001724:Birth Weight; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002956:Citrulline / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012016:Reference Values
D002956:Citrulline; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine