L-arginine--substrate for no synthesis--its beneficial effects in therapy of patients with peripheral arterial disease: comparison with placebo-preliminary results.

Intravenous infusions of L-arginine (L-ARG) and placebo (saline) resulted in improvement of clinical assessments, statistically significant after L-ARG but not after saline. Results of laboratory estimations for platelet and fibrynolysis changed significantly following L-ARG infusions but not after infusions of placebo. These data indicate beneficial effects of L-ARG as a therapeutic agent in patients with peripheral arterial obliterative disease (PAOD). In these patients exogenous L-ARG can be converted to NO.