Asymmetric dimethylarginine and whole blood viscosity in renal failure.
BACKGROUND
Renal failure is a disease with accelerated atherosclerosis beginning with endothelial cell dysfunction. Factors affecting endothelial cell dysfunction include whole blood viscosity (WBV) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). The relationship in controls and renal failure was determined.


METHODS
51 subjects, 20 controls, 11 renal transplant recipients, 10 chronic kidney disease and 10 end-stage renal disease patients had blood samples drawn for WBV, Hematocrit, and ADMA. WBV was measured at various shear rates from 10 s(-1) to 780 s(-1) at 37 °C. Hematocrit using CritSpin, and ADMA was assayed using an ELISA method. The significance between groups was compared by boxplots and analysis of variance. Linear relationships were shown by regression lines and correlation coefficients.


RESULTS
ADMA was elevated in all groups with renal failure when compared to controls (p < 0.05). Control subjects showed a positive correlation between ADMA and WBV, while those who received a renal transplant had a negative correlation (p < 0.05). The difference in ADMA comparing pre-dialysis to post-dialysis conditions was positive (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The positive relationship between WBV and ADMA in controls is a novel finding and allows for comparison with other groups. This relationship is dramatically altered in renal failure.
Department of Medicine, Nephrology Section, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Mary S
MS
Hammes
Department of Health Studies, Biostatistics Laboratory, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Sydeaka
S
Watson
Department of Medicine, Nephrology Section, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Frederic L
FL
Coe
Department of Medicine, Nephrology Section, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Faris
F
Ahmed
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
Emily
E
Beltran
Department of Biomedical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL, USA.
Promila
P
Dhar
D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001809:Blood Viscosity / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine
Asymmetric dimethylarginine; endothelial cell; nitric oxide; renal failure; viscosity