Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA): a novel risk marker in cardiovascular medicine and beyond.
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.
Clinical Pharmacology Unit, Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany. boeger@uke.uni-hamburg.de
Rainer H
RH
Böger
D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006980:Hyperthyroidism / Q000097:blood; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D017093:Liver Failure / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D015415:Biomarkers; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C024917:symmetric dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase