title: Plasma level of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as a predictor of carotid intima-media thickness progression: six-year prospective study using carotid ultrasonography.
abstract: This study was designed to determine the relationship between plasma asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and the development of carotid atherosclerosis. Cross-sectional studies have revealed that plasma ADMA concentration is correlated with the intima-media thickness (IMT) of the carotid artery, but no prospective studies have appeared. Therefore we prospectively investigated whether or not plasma ADMA level can predict IMT progression. In a community-based cohort, we enrolled 712 subjects who were over 40 years old and who had no apparent cardiovascular diseases according to high-resolution carotid ultrasonography. Blood chemistries including ADMA were measured at baseline. In 575 subjects, IMT was re-measured 6 years later. The value of baseline ADMA for predicting IMT changes was investigated by multivariable analysis. At baseline, there was a significant (beta=0.321; p<0.001) relationship between IMT and ADMA levels. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that baseline ADMA (beta=0.241; p<0.01) was the only predictor of IMT progression after adjustments for age, sex, baseline IMT, and four major risk factors (hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes mellitus, and smoking) plus hyperuricacidemia. Plasma ADMA was a predictor of carotid IMT progression.
authors: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, and the Cardiovascular Research Institute, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan.
authors: Kumiko
authors: K
authors: Furuki
authors: Hisashi
authors: H
authors: Adachi
authors: Mika
authors: M
authors: Enomoto
authors: Maki
authors: M
authors: Otsuka
authors: Ako
authors: A
authors: Fukami
authors: Shun-ichi
authors: S
authors: Kumagae
authors: Hidehiro
authors: H
authors: Matsuoka
authors: Yasuki
authors: Y
authors: Nanjo
authors: Tatsuyuki
authors: T
authors: Kakuma
authors: Tsutomu
authors: T
authors: Imaizumi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology*; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine