title: Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) in cardiovascular and renal disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) is a modified amino acid formed when intracellular arginine is methylated by methyltransferases that are widely distributed throughout the body. Nitric oxide (NO) is produced from l-arginine in a reaction catalyzed by three distinct isoforms of NO synthase (NOS). NO has emerged as a mediator involved in maintenance of vascular tonus, blood pressure regulation, inhibition of platelet aggregation, leukocyte and endothelial cell interaction and vascular permeability. ADMA is an important inhibitor that competes with NOS and compromises NO synthesis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This review aims to compile articles involving renal and cardiovascular diseases in which plasma ADMA was assessed in order to clarify its role in these diseases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although current knowledge suggests that ADMA has a role in the onset of cardiovascular and renal diseases, its actions are poorly understood. Clarifying its biochemical mechanisms is essential for improving disease management and promoting better quality of life for these patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia Nessralla
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Alpoim
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia Parreiras Nunes
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Paula Lucas
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Mota
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia - Campus Centro Oeste Dona Lindu, Universidade Federal de São João Del-Rei, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danyelle Romana Alves
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Rios
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil. Electronic address: lucidusse@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Luci Maria SantAna
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Dusse
mesh_terms: D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase
keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Nitric oxide; Renal disease; l-Arginine Asymmetric Dimethyl