HEALTH OF WOMAN.2016.7(113):97–99; doi 10.15574/HW.2016.113.97 
 

Arginine and аrginase levels in the blood serum of pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation 
 

Basystyi A. V.

SI «Institute of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology, NAMS of Ukraine», Kiev

The objective: to determine arginine and arginase levels in the blood serum of pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation of different severity.

Patients and methods. The study included 100 pregnant women (from 23 to 40 weeks of gestation). The main group consisted of 80 pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation. The control group consisted of 20 women with physiological course of pregnancy. The patients of the main group were divided into three clinical groups regarding intrauterine growth retardation staging. Group I included 38 pregnant women with stage I IUGR, 22 pregnant women with stage II IUGR were in group II and 20 pregnant women with stage III IUGR – in group III. L-arginine concentration was determined in the blood serum by the method of T.L. Aleinikova et al [1], arginase activity – by the method of J.W. Geyer, D. Dabich [4]. The statistical analysis was performed by using standard computer programs: STATISTICA 6.0, Microsoft Excel, ANOVA. Statistically significant difference was considered at p<0.05.

Results. In the study the reduced level of free arginine in the main group of pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation of different severity was determined if compared with the control group. Fetomaternal gradient of arginine is reduced significantly due to increasing activity of the enzyme arginase, which competitively uses amino acid.

Conclusions. The level of reduced free arginine in the blood serum of pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation is directly proportional to the severity of fetal growth retardation: the more severe fetal growth retardation, the more marked arginine deficiency. For correcting metabolic disorders in pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation it is recommended to administer L-arginine containing drugs.

Key words: L-arginin, arginase, blood serum, pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation.

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