L-Arginine supplementation in iugr and its effect on fetal outcome: A randomised control trial

Abstract

Objective: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), a condition in which the foetal growth is restricted pathologically in utero, remains a serious health problem. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of L-Arginine administration on the fetal outcome in pregnancies complicated by intra uterine growth restriction.Methods: This randomized control study was undertaken in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, Chennai from March 2017 to August 2017. The study included 60 randomly chosen pregnant women diagnosed with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). 30 women received 3 g of L-Arginine daily as a supplement to standard therapy (case Group) and 30 women received only routine therapy (control group). The ultrasound and clinical examination were done on the first day of hospitalization and then every week in both the groups.Results: In the group treated with L-Arginine, we observed higher Estimated fetal weight after 4 weeks of treatment (p