Increased plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in patients with carotid stenosis: no evidence for the role of the common FABP2 A54T gene polymorphism.
OBJECTIVE
Both asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), which is an inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and the fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2) A54T gene polymorphism have been associated with cerebrovascular disease. The objective of the present study was to investigate the role of ADMA and the FABP2 A54T polymorphism in carotid atherosclerosis.


METHODS
54 patients with severe carotid stenosis and 54 matched controls without significant carotid stenosis were compared. ADMA was analysed with an ELISA method. The FABP2 A54T polymorphism was determined with a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique.


RESULTS
Patients with carotid stenosis had higher ADMA levels (0.76 +/- 0.16 micromol/l) than the controls (0.70 +/- 0.14 micromol/l, P < 0,01). Allele and genotype frequencies of the FABP2 polymorphism did not differ between patients and controls.


CONCLUSIONS
ADMA levels in subjects with carotid stenosis are increased which emphasize the role of ADMA as a novel risk factor for atherosclerosis and future cardiovascular risk. The FABP2 A54T polymorphism is not associated with severe carotid stenosis.
Wanby
P
P
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
Nilsson
I
I
Brudin
L
L
Nyhammar
I
I
Gustafsson
I
I
Carlsson
M
M
D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014463:Ultrasonography
C493404:FABP2 protein, human; D050556:Fatty Acid-Binding Proteins; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine