Levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine throughout normal pregnancy and in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia or had a small for gestational age baby.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate maternal asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations at the three trimesters of pregnancy in uncomplicated pregnancies and in women who developed preeclampsia or had small for gestational age infants (SGA) without preeclampsia.


METHODS
ADMA concentrations were retrospectively determined in the first, second and third trimester of pregnancy in 41 uncomplicated pregnancies, 10 pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia and 14 pregnancies that delivered a SGA baby. ADMA was measured with an ELISA kit.


RESULTS
Mean (±SD) concentrations of ADMA (µmol/L) in uncomplicated l pregnancies were: 0.51 ± 0.14; 0.52 ± 0.13; 0.58 ± 0.16 in the three trimesters, respectively. ADMA concentrations in SGA pregnancies were significantly lower in each trimester compared to uncomplicated pregnancies: (0.40 ± 0.10, p = 0.005 1st trim; 0.42 ± 0.10, p = 0.007 2nd trim; 0.45 ± 0.10, p = 0.007 3rd trim). Although pregnancies that developed preeclampsia had higher ADMA concentration in all trimesters compared to uncomplicated pregnancies (0.58 ± 0.10; 0.63 ± 0.14; 0.68 ± 0.11), the difference was statistically significant only in the 2nd trimester (p = 0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal serum ADMA concentration tends to increase during normal pregnancy. Pregnancies with SGA infants had significantly lower ADMA levels in all trimesters of pregnancy. ADMA concentrations in the 2nd trimester was significantly elevated in pregnancies that later developed preeclampsia.
Hormone Laboratory, 2nd Dept of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Medical School, University of Athens, Aretaieio Hospital, Athens, Greece. drizos@aretaieio.uoa.gr
Demetrios
D
Rizos
Makarios
M
Eleftheriades
Emmanuel
E
Batakis
Myrto
M
Rizou
Alexander
A
Haliassos
Demetrios
D
Hassiakos
Demetrios
D
Botsis
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000379:methods; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*
C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine