Association of Serum Asymmetric Dimethylarginine with the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease: A Pilot Study

Background: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), has been implicated in endothelial dysfunction and atherogenesis. Though there is much evidence linking ADMA with atherosclerosis and adverse cardiovascular events, only a few studies have established the independent relationship between elevated ADMA and the angiographic extent of coronary artery disease (CAD). The aim of the study was to analyze serum ADMA levels in patients with varied extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis and to see whether the levels of ADMA in male and female participants vary significantly. Methods: We analyzed ۴۰ individuals with obstructive CAD, including men and women, between the ages of ۳۰ and ۶۰. According to their coronary angiographic reports, the participants were divided into four groups: minor CAD, single vessel disease (SVD), double vessel disease (DVD) group and triple vessel disease (TVD). Then, serum ADMA levels was measured and compared among these groups. Results: ADMA level was significantly higher in patients with TVD (۱۶۷.۷۴±۱۶.۶۹) than those in the DVD (۱۵۹.۴۶±۱۰.۴۰), SVD (۱۴۹.۵۴±۱۶.۳۹) and minor CAD (۱۴۴.۵± ۲۴.۱۶) group (p-value= ۰.۰۰۰۱). There was no significant difference in ADMA levels between male and female participants (p= ۰.۵۳۴). Conclusions: ADMA concentration in the serum may be useful in identifying whether CAD correlates significantly to the extent and severity of coronary atherosclerosis.

Keywords:

ADMA , CAD , Endothelial dysfunction , NOS , Atherosclerosis.