title: Arginine and asymmetric dimethylarginine in pregnant women with major depression.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Depression has been associated with vascular dysfunction, which may be of particular relevance in pregnancy. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), and L-arginine play a critical role in vascular function. The objective of this study was to investigate differences in ADMA, SDMA, and L-arginine among pregnant women with major depression compared with pregnant women without depression.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted in 21 depressed pregnant women and 42 matched controls. Maternal plasma ADMA, SDMA, and L-arginine were quantified, as well as C-reactive protein and urine excretion of ADMA, SDMA, L-arginine, and Arginase I.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma L-arginine and ADMA levels were significantly lower in the first trimester in women with depression (mean [standard deviation = 37.0 [9.2] and 0.298 [0.06] μM, respectively) compared with matched controls (42.1 [11.4] and 0.336 [0.08] μM, p = .004 and p = .002, respectively) and across pregnancies (p < .001 both). Depressed pregnant women had higher levels of plasma C-reactive protein (7.5 [3.7] versus 5.1 [4.0] μg/ml, p = .027), but no differences in urine excretion of ADMA, SDMA, or L-arginine, or plasma levels of Arginase I (p > .10).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pregnant women with depression show lower plasma levels of L-arginine and ADMA. These differences are not explained by urinary excretion or Arginase I levels. The mechanism responsible for the observed differences in depressed pregnant women requires further research.
authors: From the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences (R.W.P.) and Magee-Womens Research Institute (A.R., M.G., R.W.P.), University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Raw
authors: Marcia
authors: M
authors: Gallaher
authors: Robert W
authors: RW
authors: Powers
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001119:Arginase / Q000652:urine; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D001119:Arginase