All issues > Volume 46(12); 2003

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 2003;46(12):1207-1211. Published online December 15, 2003.

Plasma L-Arginine Concentration, Oxygenation Index and Pulmonary Artery Pressure in Premature Infants with Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Kyong Ah KA Jeong¹, Soon Ju SJ Lee¹, In Kyung IK Sung¹, Chung Sik CS Chun¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Correspondence Soon Ju SJ Lee ,Email: sunjulee@catholic.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: This study was performed to observe the relationship of plasma L-arginine level and the severity of disease and pulmonary artery pressure in respiratory distress syndrome of premature infants.
Methods
: Peripheral blood samples were obtained at 1st, 3rd and 7th day from 21 premature infants with respiratory distress syndrome to analyze the L-arginine concentration. Oxygenation index (OI), an indicator of the severity of the disease, was calculated at the same time of the blood sampling. And pulmonary artery pressure was measured by Doppler echocardiography at each period. Plasma L-arginine level, OI and right ventricular systolic time interval(RVSTI) were analyzed.
Results
: Plasma L-arginine concentration of the 1st day was lower than 3rd and 7th day. OI and RVSTI were significantly correlated with each other(r=0.772, P<0.01). Plasma L- arginine level was correlated with oxygenation index(r=-0.346, P<0.01) and RVSTI(r=-0.416, P<0.01).
Conclusion
: Plasma L-arginine level was lowest in the 1st day during the study period. Plasma L- arginine concentration correlated significantly with the severity of respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary artery pressure in premature infants.

Keywords :RDS, L-arginine, Oxygenation index, Pulmonary artery pressure