title: Body size, but neither age nor asymptomatic mitral regurgitation, influences plasma concentrations of dimethylarginines in dogs.
abstract: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a marker of various cardiovascular diseases in man. The aim of the present study was to test if Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) with varying degrees of mitral regurgitation (MR) had increased plasma concentration of ADMA and furthermore, characterize the plasma level of ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) in normal dogs. Seventy-six dogs were included (44 CKCS and 32 dogs of other breeds). The CKCS had various degrees of MR, whereas the remaining dogs had either no or minimal MR. Apart from cardiac murmurs, no dogs showed signs of cardiac or systematic disease. The degree of MR had no significant influence on ADMA (P = 0.33). Body weight was directly associated with ADMA (P = 0.0004) and creatinine was directly associated with SDMA (P<0.0001). Furthermore, the plasma concentration of ADMA was three to four times higher than found in healthy humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Basic Animal and Veterinary Sciences, The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, 7 Groennegaardsvej, DK-1870 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark. lgp@kvl.dk
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tarnow
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Olsen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Teerlink
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D008945:Mitral Valve Prolapse / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: C487735:dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D003404:Creatinine