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Objective: This study aimed to estimate the effectiveness of L-arginine for preventing preeclampsia in high-risk pregnancy. Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, clinical trial in patients with high-risk factors for preeclampsia. Fifty subjects received L-arginine, beginning from the 20th week of gestation. An additional 50 patients received homologated placebo. Results: The placebo group had a higher number of cases of preeclampsia (11/47) compared with the L-arginine group (3/49, P = 0.01). Birth weight was higher in the L-arginine group and there was a smaller number of preterm births (P = 0.03). Conclusion: L-arginine is effective for preventing preeclampsia.

Preclampsia (PE) is a disorder in the pregnancy, with a worldwide prevalence of 5 to 8 %. Is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality? Actually exist different diagnostic criteria, however due to the complexity of PE and signs and symptoms that make up this syndrome could be not clearly evident. It has recently been postulated pathophysiology of PE in three pathophysiologic processes: inadequate uterine remodeling, placental dysfunction and maternal endothelial dysfunction. Despite advances in the treatment of PE and decades of research, the results of medical interventions have failed to significantly decrease the morbidity and mortality of this disease. The main reason for this is perhaps the multifactorial origin of pathogenic processes that lead to the development of PE. That is why the approach to patient management has been present PE prevent or its inception happening late in pregnancy. The key to prevention is knowledge of the factors that trigger pathophysiological processes that culminate in the presentation of the PE. However, efforts to determine the origin of these processes are still poorly or incompletely understood, on the one hand, because the approach to research in this population may be unethical compared to other diseases of women in non - pregnant population, the multifactorial origin and the difficulty of carrying out studies in the early stages of pregnancy because they can endanger both mother and as the product.