L-arginine supplementation in women with chronic hypertension: impact on blood pressure and maternal and neonatal complications.

Objective: To evaluate L-arginine (L-Arg) supplementation in pregnant women with chronic hypertension and its effects on blood pressure (BP) and maternal and neonatal complications.

Methods: We enrolled 80 women affected by mild chronic hypertension referred to the High Risk Clinic of the Mother-Infant Department of the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia. Each woman after obtaining oral consent was randomized to receive oral L-Arg versus placebo and thereafter submitted to 24-h ambulatory BP monitoring.

Procalcitonin and C-reactive protein during systemic inflammatory response syndrome, sepsis and organ dysfunction.

Introduction: Both C-reactive protein (CRP) and procalcitonin (PCT) are accepted sepsis markers. However, there is still some debate concerning the correlation between their serum concentrations and sepsis severity. We hypothesised that PCT and CRP concentrations are different in patients with infection or with no infection at a similar severity of organ dysfunction or of systemic inflammatory response.