L-ARGININE AS A THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR THE VEROTOXIGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI-INDUCED HEMOLYTIC-UREMIC SYNDROME AND THROMBOTIC THROMBOCYTOPENIC PURPURA

Infection with verotoxigenic Escherichia coli, mainly strain O157:H7, has been incriminated in the cause of the hemolytic uremic syndrome an d thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. Both syndromes, which cause ser ious problems in children and elderly patients, are not readily treate d. Conventional treatment with antibiotics has been reported to not on ly stimulate bacteria to increase toxin production, but also to enhanc e its release from the cell. This in turn increases the severity of th e disease. An alternative approach to the control of the disease would involve treatment with the amino acid L-arginine, in high amounts thr ough total parenteral nutrition. L-arginine will generate high amounts of nitric oxide which will decrease platelet aggregation and increase vasodilation. Both effects will decrease the development of the tubul ar occlusion and the accompanied hypertension. In summary, we hypothes ize that L-arginine can be used to control two diseases caused by E. c oli O157:H7.