title: Plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarct and leukoencephalopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and a new independent risk factor for adverse cerebrovascular events in small vessel disease. Conversely, L-arginine (LARG) may have a protective role.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess ADMA, LARG levels and LARG/ADMA ratio in 16 patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) and normal controls, and to look for possible correlations with white matter changes. Plasma levels of ADMA and LARG were assayed by high-performance liquid chromatography in all subjects. The overall T(1) and T(2) lesion load was obtained from brain MRI of patients with CADASIL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ADMA plasma concentrations (1.5 +/- 2.0 microM) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in CADASIL patients than in controls (0.35 +/- 0.075 microM). Analyzing only CADASIL subjects, an inverse borderline-significant correlation was found between LARG/ADMA (190 +/- 20) and T(2)-weighted lesion volumes (57.9 +/- 46.5; r = -0.578, p = 0.024).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results may indicate the possible coexistence of endothelial dysfunction in CADASIL patients, broadening the range of potentially pathogenetic mechanisms in this disease and providing insights for future therapeutic strategies.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Neurologiche e del Comportamento, Università di Siena, Siena, Italia.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rufa
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blardi
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Lalla
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cevenini
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: De Stefano
authors.forename: Enza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zicari
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auteri
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Federico
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Dotti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D046589:CADASIL / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D051880:Receptors, Notch / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; C499374:NOTCH3 protein, human; D000071656:Receptor, Notch3; D051880:Receptors, Notch; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine