Aqueous humour and serum concentration of asymmetric dimethyl arginine in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is the major endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. ADMA is related to endothelial dysfunction and is an independent cardiovascular risk factor. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of ADMA in aqueous humour and serum samples of patients with pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome.


METHODS
21 cataract patients with PEX syndrome (PEX group) and 18 cataract patients without PEX syndrome (control group) were enrolled in the study. ADMA was measured in the aqueous humour and serum of the PEX and control groups. ELISA was used to determine the ADMA concentration.


RESULTS
Mean aqueous humour ADMA concentration in the PEX group was 0.39 ± 0.07 μmol/l and in the control group was 0.34 ± 0.06 μmol/l. Mean serum ADMA concentration in the PEX group was 0.56 ± 0.21 μmol/l and in the control group was 0.44 ± 0.12 μmol/l. ADMA concentration of aqueous humour in the PEX group was significantly higher than the control group (p=0.026). Similarly, ADMA concentration of serum in the PEX group was significantly higher than the control group (p=0.039).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of the present study could suggest that ADMA might play a role in the aetiopathogenesis of PEX syndrome. Higher aqueous and serum levels of ADMA might be potential evidence of endothelial dysfunction in PEX syndrome.
Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University, Bolu, Turkey. tosundr@yahoo.com
Mehmet
M
Tosun
Mesut
M
Erdurmus
Guler
G
Bugdayci
Serdal
S
Celebi
Aytekin
A
Alcelik
D000368:Aged; D001082:Aqueous Humor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002386:Cataract / Q000097:blood; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D017889:Exfoliation Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006068:Gonioscopy; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014065:Tonometry, Ocular
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase