title: Asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine are associated with coronary artery lesions in Kawasaki disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether 3 biomarkers, L-arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), can predict outcomes in patients with Kawasaki disease (KD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma levels of L-arginine, ADMA, and SDMA were measured in 39 patients with KD and 27 febrile control patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma L-arginine, ADMA, and SDMA levels were lower in patients with KD than in control patients before treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG; P=.027, P<.001, and P<.001, respectively). After treatment with IVIG, L-arginine, ADMA, L-arginine/ADMA ratios, and arginine methylation ([ADMA+SDMA]/L-arginine) increased significantly (P<.001, P=.001, P=.014, and P=.001, respectively). Compared with control patients, persistent lower SDMA and higher ADMA/SDMA ratios existed in patients with KD. Furthermore, a lesser magnitude of change in terms of L-arginine and ADMA/SDMA ratios after IVIG treatment was associated with the formation of coronary dilation (P=.025, and .029, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Levels of L-arginine, ADMA, and SDMA appear to be associated with KD. Lower L-arginine levels and ADMA/SDMA after treatment with IVIG was associated with coronary artery abnormalities patients with KD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ying-Hsien
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: You-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Tain
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chiu-Ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Kawasaki Disease Center, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: erickuo48@yahoo.com.tw.
authors.forename: Ho-Chang
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuo
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D003331:Coronary Vessels; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009080:Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016756:Immunoglobulins, Intravenous; C024917:symmetric dimethylarginine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine