Effect of arginine on cyclosporine-induced systemic hypertension after cardiac transplantation in the young

To test the hypothesis that cyclosporine-induced hypertension is associated with an altered L-arginine/nitric oxide pathway, we studied the acute effe cts of intravenous L-arginine infusion on blood pressure, heart rate, left ventricular function, and nitric oxide production in young heart transplant patients receiving cyclosporine. Results demonstrate that L-arginine can s ignificantly reduce blood pressure in heart transplant patients, with a con comitant increase in nitric oxide production.