title: L-Arginine in pregnant scleroderma patients.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) pregnant women show a high frequency of premature births and occurrence of renal crisis. Some evidences showed the role of L-arginine in the prevention and treatment of preeclampsia. Here, we report our experience on the effect of L-arginine treatment in four consecutive SSc pregnant women. Two patients, who have planned the pregnancy, were treated with oral L-arginine; both delivered healthy babies without any prenatal complications. The other two, with high risk of pregnancy complications because of severe lung involvement and type 1 diabetes, respectively, underwent i.v. L-arginine: patient 3 had a premature delivery of a 2-kg healthy baby, while patient 4 developed preeclampsia and, at the 28th week, delivered a 1,050-g girl. The neonate had severe respiratory distress syndrome complicated by severe infection and died at day 28. Although limited, our pilot study suggests that L-arginine may be a useful therapeutic agent in pregnant SSc women.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Unit, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy. giuggioli.dilia@policlinico.mo.it
authors.forename: Dilia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Giuggioli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colaci
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sebastiani
authors.forename: Clodoveo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferri
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D001120:Arginine