BACKGROUND:

Nitric oxide-dependent factors (serotonin, activated platelets, acetylcholine) cause vasodilation in normal coronary arteries but vasoconstrict atherosclerotic vessels. This experiment tested the hypothesis that intravenous systemic infusions of L-arginine, a precursor for nitric oxide production, dilate the coronary vascular bed of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

METHODS:

Twenty patients scheduled for coronary artery bypass graft surgery surgery were studied in a prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial. Saphenous vein graft blood flow was measured with a transit time flow probe, and coronary vascular resistance was calculated. After weaning from bypass, patients were given a venous infusion (placebo or 10% arginine hydrochloride [30 g]) over 15 min. Arterial blood samples for the determination of L-arginine and L-citrulline levels were drawn before, 10 min after starting infusion, and 10 min after end of infusion.

RESULTS:

The placebo group experienced an increase in mean arterial pressure and coronary vascular resistance and a decrease in graft blood flow. Patients in the L-arginine group maintained their baseline values. Mean arterial pressure (L-arginine, 88+/-17 to 92+/-13 mmHg vs. placebo, 80+/-12 to 92+/-9 mmHg, P = 0.021), coronary vascular resistance (L-arginine, 97,000+/-60,000 to 99,600+/-51,000 dynes x s x cm(-5) vs. placebo, 81,000+/-69,000 to 117,000+/-64,000 dynes x s x cm(-5), P = 0.05), and graft blood flow (L-arginine, 55+/-25 to 50+/-19 ml/min vs. placebo, 60+/-34 to 46+/-18, P = 0.05) remained more stable in the L-arginine-treated patients.

CONCLUSIONS:

Systemic L-arginine infusion reduced postbypass coronary vasoconstriction. There were no adverse events associated with the drug infusion.