Correlation between plasma levels of arginine and citrulline in preterm and full-term neonates: Therapeutical implications

Abstract

Background: Preterm neonates exhibit several deficiencies that endanger their lives. Understanding those disturbances will provide tools for the management of preterm neonates. The present work focuses on arginine and citrulline which has been flagged among the biochemical landmarks of prematurity. Methods: We examined blood samples of preterm newborns as compared with mature neonates to determine the levels of arginine and citrulline by capillary zone electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence detection (CZE-LIFD). Results: Significantly lower levels of arginine and citrulline were found in preterm neonates than in mature neonates (P