Role of L-arginine in the Prevention of Preeclampsia (PE) and Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) in High-Risk Primigravida
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51985/Keywords:
Arginine; Pre-Eclampsia; Fetal Growth Retardation; Pregnancy, High-RiskAbstract
Objective: To determine the comparison of oral L-arginine supplementation with regular antenatal care in the prevention of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction in high-risk primigravida.
Study Design and Setting: It was a non-randomized controlled trial which took place in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hilal-e-Ahmar Hospital, Faisalabad.
Methodology: A total of 180 high-risk primigravida women with singleton pregnancies were enrolled at 20–24 weeks of gestation and assigned non-randomly in equal numbers to two groups. Group A received oral L-arginine 1000 mg/day, oral aspirin 75 mg/day, and routine prenatal vitamins and supplements, while Group B received oral aspirin 75 mg/day and routine prenatal vitamins and supplements without L-arginine. L-arginine was initiated after enrollment and continued for 12 weeks. Participants were reviewed at four-week intervals for blood pressure, urine protein, fetal growth, and maternal condition. Because group allocation was non-randomized, the study was susceptible to selection bias and residual confounding.
Results: Preeclampsia occurred in 5/90 women (5.6%) in Group A and 17/90 women (18.9%) in Group B (p=0.012). Intrauterine growth restriction occurred in 3/90 women (3.3%) in Group A and 12/90 women (13.3%) in Group B (p=0.031). Mean birth weight was 2920 ± 410 g in Group A and 2740 ± 455 g in Group B (p=0.006).
Conclusion: In this single-center, non-randomized study, women who received adjunctive oral L-arginine had lower observed frequencies of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction and a higher mean birth weight than women receiving aspirin and routine prenatal supplements alone. These findings demonstrate an association and should not be interpreted as proof of efficacy or causality because treatment allocation was not randomized
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