Asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine in patients presenting with risk factors for coronary heart disease

Abstract

Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate asymmetric (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) production in patients presenting with one or more risk factor (RF) for coronary heart disease (CHD). Patients and methods: Overall, 113 participants were enrolled in the study, including 45 patients presenting with risk for CHD (27 male and 18 female; aged 55.9 ± 6.4 years), 30 sex and age-matched middle-aged healthy controls (16 male and 14 female; aged 56.3 ± 8.4 years), and 38 young healthy controls (38 male; aged 24.6 ± 3.9 years). Results: No significant differences for ADMA and SDMA were recorded between patients groups presenting with risk for CHD. However, ADMA and SDMA were significantly higher in all examined patient groups (≥3 and 1–2 RF, hypertensive and non-hypertensive, obese and non-obese, diabetics and non-diabetics) compared with both control groups (middle-aged and young controls) (p<0.001). ADMA significantly correlated with SDMA in ≥3 RF (p<0.05), hypertensive (p<0.05), non-obese (p<0.05), non-diabetics (p<0.01), as well in middle-aged (p<0.05) and young controls (p<0.001). Conclusion: Significantly higher ADMA and SDMA were found between patients presenting with risk for CHD (≥3 and 1–2 RF, hypertensive and nonhypertensive, obese and non-obese, diabetics and non-diabetics) and healthy, middle-aged and young controls. ADMA significantly correlated with SDMA in ≥3 RF, hypertensive, non-obese and non-diabetic patients, as well as in middle-aged and young controls.