Efficacy of L-arginine for preventing preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancies: A double-blind, randomized, clinical trial

• Published in: Hypertension in pregnancy Vol. 35; no. 2; pp. 217 - 225
• Main Authors: Camarena Pulido, E. E., García Benavides, L., Panduro Barón, J. G., Pascoe Gonzalez, S., Madrigal Saray, A. J., García Padilla, F. E., Totsuka Sutto, S. E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 02.04.2016
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Arginine - pharmacology; Arginine - therapeutic use; Blood Pressure - drug effects; Double-Blind Method; Eclampsia; Female; gestational hypertension; Humans; oxidative stress; Pre-Eclampsia - prevention & control; preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy, High-Risk; randomized controlled trial; Treatment Outcome; Young Adult; gestational hypertension; preeclampsia; oxidative stress; Eclampsia; randomized controlled trial
• ISSN: 1064-1955; 1525-6065
• DOI: 10.3109/10641955.2015.1137586

Objective: This study aimed to estimate the effectiveness of L-arginine for preventing preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancy. Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in patients with high-risk factors for preeclampsia. Fifty subjects received L-arginine, beginning from the 20th week of gestation. An additional 50 patients received homologated placebo. Results: The placebo group had a higher number of cases of preeclampsia (11/47) compared with the L-arginine group (3/49, P = 0.01). Birth weight was higher in the L-arginine group and there was a smaller number of preterm births (P = 0.03). Conclusion: L-arginine is effective for preventing preeclampsia.