title: Umbilical cord asymmetric dimethylarginine levels and ultrasound assessment of carotid arteries in neonates born small for gestational age.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To examine asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) level as an endothelial function parameter in addition to ultrasonographic evaluation of carotid arteries in babies born small for gestational age (SGA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-six neonates born SGA and 34 appropriate for gestational age (AGA) controls were included in the study. The serum levels of ADMA were measured. Intima-media thickness (cIMT) and resistive index (cRI) of the both carotid arteries were determined by ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean ADMA level was higher in SGA neonates compared to AGAs (16 267.7 ± 6050 versus 12 810.2 ± 3302 ng/L; p = 0.01). The mean cIMT (0.34 ± 0.02 versus 0.31 ± 0.03 mm; p = 0.001) and cRI (0.66 ± 0.07 versus 0.61 ± 0.04, p = 0.003) were also higher in SGAs. Serum ADMA levels were positively correlated to the mean cIMT (r = 0.41, p = 0.001). Although there was a weak correlation between cIMT and mean cRI (r = 0.26, p = 0.04), no correlation was found between ADMA and mean cRI (r = 0.17, p = 0.18).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neonates born SGA have elevated cord blood ADMA level in addition to thicker IMT and higher RI of carotid arteries at birth. ADMA was correlated to cIMT, suggesting that higher ADMA levels might influence vascular health in later life in these neonates.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Dilek
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dilli
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: b Department of Radiology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Burak
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Banu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Özyazici
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fettah
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Ayşegül
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zenciroğlu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Neonatology , Dr Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Research and Training Hospital , Ankara , Turkey and.
authors.forename: Nurullah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okumuş
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000098:blood supply*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C487735:dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine
keywords: Asymmetric dimethylarginine; carotid artery; neonate; small for gestational age; ultrasound