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L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Creager, MA; Gallagher, SJ; Girerd, XJ; Coleman, SM; Dzau, VJ; Cooke, JP
Published in: J Clin Invest
October 1992

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in hypercholesterolemia, even before the development of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether infusion of L-arginine, the precursor of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide, improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans. Vascular reactivity was measured in the forearm resistance vessels of 11 normal subjects (serum LDL cholesterol = 2.76 +/- 0.10 mmol/liter) and 14 age-matched patients with hypercholesterolemia (serum LDL cholesterol = 4.65 +/- 0.36 mmol/liter, P < 0.05). The vasodilative response to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator, methacholine chloride, was depressed in the hypercholesterolemic group, whereas endothelium-independent vasodilation, induced by nitroprusside, was similar in each group. Intravenous administration of L-arginine augmented the forearm blood flow response to methacholine in the hypercholesterolemic individuals, but not in the normal subjects. L-arginine did not alter the effect of nitroprusside in either group. D-arginine had no effect on forearm vascular reactivity in either group. It is concluded that endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in hypercholesterolemic humans. This abnormality can be improved acutely by administration of L-arginine, possibly by increasing the synthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

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Published In

J Clin Invest

DOI

ISSN

0021-9738

Publication Date

October 1992

Volume

90

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1248 / 1253

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vasodilation
  • Nitroprusside
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Middle Aged
  • Methacholine Chloride
  • Male
  • Insulin
  • Immunology
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Humans
 

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Creager, M. A., Gallagher, S. J., Girerd, X. J., Coleman, S. M., Dzau, V. J., & Cooke, J. P. (1992). L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans. J Clin Invest, 90(4), 1248–1253. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI115987
Creager, M. A., S. J. Gallagher, X. J. Girerd, S. M. Coleman, V. J. Dzau, and J. P. Cooke. “L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans.J Clin Invest 90, no. 4 (October 1992): 1248–53. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI115987.
Creager MA, Gallagher SJ, Girerd XJ, Coleman SM, Dzau VJ, Cooke JP. L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans. J Clin Invest. 1992 Oct;90(4):1248–53.
Creager, M. A., et al. “L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans.J Clin Invest, vol. 90, no. 4, Oct. 1992, pp. 1248–53. Pubmed, doi:10.1172/JCI115987.
Creager MA, Gallagher SJ, Girerd XJ, Coleman SM, Dzau VJ, Cooke JP. L-arginine improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypercholesterolemic humans. J Clin Invest. 1992 Oct;90(4):1248–1253.

Published In

J Clin Invest

DOI

ISSN

0021-9738

Publication Date

October 1992

Volume

90

Issue

4

Start / End Page

1248 / 1253

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Vasodilation
  • Nitroprusside
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Middle Aged
  • Methacholine Chloride
  • Male
  • Insulin
  • Immunology
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Humans