The Effect of L-Arginine on the Clinical and Immunological Parameters in Patients with Asthma

Sayyora A. Bazarova, Anis L. Alyavi PhD, ScD, Gulnara S. Dzhambekova PhD, Gulnaz M. Kasymova PhD

Republican Specialized Scientific-Practical Medical Center of Therapy and Medical Rehabilitation, Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

*Corresponding author: Sayyora A. Bazarova, Republican Specialized Scientific-Practical Medical Center of Therapy and Medical Rehabilitation. 4, Osiyo street, Yunusabad district, 100084, Tashkent, Republic of Uzbekistan. Tel: 99894 6531358. E-mail: d-sayyorik@mail.ru

Published: March 25, 2013

Abstract: 

The purpose of this study was to study the effects of L-arginine on the clinical course and some immunological parameters in patients with asthma.

Material and Methods: In this study, we examined 56 patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma. The average duration of the disease was 15±2.3 years. The patients were divided into two groups. The patients of the study group (n=25) were subjected to the standard treatment and nitric oxide (NO) donor L-arginine. The patients of the comparison group (n=31) received the standard treatment only. All patients underwent a complete physical examination including a determination of serum cytokine levels (IL-4, IL-8, and TNF-α) before and after treatment.

Results: In both groups, the baseline serum levels of IL-4, IL-8 and TNF-α were greater than the normative values. Direct correlations were observed between the level of the interleukins and clinical symptoms. Daily intravenous infusion of L-arginine at 4.2 g for 30 min over 10 days significantly reduced the serum levels of IL-4, IL-8 and TNF-α. No significant changes were noted in the levels of these parameters in the control group.

Conclusion: The addition of L-arginine to the basic treatment in asthmatic patients contributed to the earlier improvement of clinical symptoms and a significant reduction of the IL-4, IL-8 and TNF-α serum levels.

Keywords: 
asthma; L-arginine; interleukins; endothelial dysfunction.
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Int J Biomed. 2013; 3(1):12-14. © 2013 International Medical Research and Development Corporation. All rights reserved.