Effect of L-Arginine on Plasminogen-Activator Inhibitor in Hypertensive Patients with Hypercholesterolemia: Letter

An increase in blood pressure after the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase suggests that a deficiency of nitric oxide may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension1. [...]in these two patients, the infusions of L-arginine lowered plasma cholesterol levels to 6.5 and 6.7 mmol per liter, and blood pressure dropped to 130/80 mm Hg in both patients. [...]the infusion of L-arginine was associated with a decrease in plasma PAI and cholesterol levels as well as normalization of blood pressure in the two hypertensive patients with hypercholesterolemia but not in the other three patients. Plasma levels of cyclic guanosine monophosphate may be used as an indicator of the stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (nitric oxide)5.