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TRENDS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA): A novel risk marker in cardiovascular medicine and beyond

Pages 126-136 | Published online: 26 Aug 2009
 

Abstract

There is abundant evidence that the endothelium plays a crucial role in the maintenance of vascular tone and structure. One of the major endothelium‐derived vasoactive mediators is nitric oxide (NO), an endogenous messenger molecule formed in healthy vascular endothelium from the amino acid precursor L‐arginine. Endothelial dysfunction is caused by various cardiovascular risk factors, metabolic diseases, and systemic or local inflammation. One mechanism that explains the occurrence of endothelial dysfunction is the presence of elevated blood levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) – an L‐arginine analogue that inhibits NO formation and thereby can impair vascular function. Supplementation with L‐arginine has been shown to restore vascular function and to improve the clinical symptoms of various diseases associated with vascular dysfunction.

Abbreviations
ACS=

acute coronary syndrome

ADMA=

asymmetric dimethylarginine

DDAH=

dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase

ICU=

intensive care unit

L‐NMMA=

NG‐monomethyl‐L‐arginine

NO=

nitric oxide

PRMT=

protein‐arginine methyltransferase

SDMA=

symmetric dimethylarginine

Abbreviations
ACS=

acute coronary syndrome

ADMA=

asymmetric dimethylarginine

DDAH=

dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase

ICU=

intensive care unit

L‐NMMA=

NG‐monomethyl‐L‐arginine

NO=

nitric oxide

PRMT=

protein‐arginine methyltransferase

SDMA=

symmetric dimethylarginine

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