title: ASYMMETRIC DIMETHYLARGININE LEVELS AND ATHEROSCLEROSIS MARKERS IN CUSHING SYNDROME.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  As a consequence of hypercortisolism, Cushing syndrome (CS) is frequently observed with other diseases that are associated with atherosclerosis, including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and obesity. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of mortality and morbidity in CS. We investigate CVD risk markers such as asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), highsensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), homocysteine, lipid levels, ankle-brachial index (ABI), and carotid intimamedia thickness (CIMT) in CS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study included 27 patients with CS and 27 age-, sex-, body mass index (BMI)-, and comorbid disease-matched control subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma ADMA levels were significantly lower in the CS group than the control group (P = .013). Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein A1 and apolipoprotein B levels were higher in patients with CS than the control group (P<.05). We did not find any statistically significant differences in levels of hsCRP, Lp-PLA2, or homocysteine or CIMT and ABI measurements between the CS group and comorbidity-matched control group (P>.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that ADMA levels were lower in CS, the finding that should be further investigated. Levels of hsCRP, Lp-PLA2, and homocysteine levels and CIMT and ABI measurements were similar between the CS group and comorbidity-matched control group. None of these markers was prominent to show an increased risk of CVD in CS, independent of the comorbidities of CS.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ABI = ankle-brachial index Apo = apolipoprotein ADMA = asymmetric dimethylarginine BMI = body mass index CVD = cardiovascular disease CIMT = carotid intima-media thickness CS = Cushing syndrome DM = diabetes mellitus DDAH = dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase ELISA = enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay HDL = high-density lipoprotein hsCRP = high-sensitive C-reactive protein HOMA-IR = homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance HT = hypertension LDL = low-density lipoprotein Lp-PLA2 = lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 Lp-a = lipoprotein a NO = nitric oxide.
authors.forename: Cemile Gulbas
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ozsurekci
authors.forename: Mujde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akturk
authors.forename: Cigdem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Gulbahar
authors.forename: Alev Eroglu
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Altinova
authors.forename: Muhittin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yalcin
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Fusun
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Toruner
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D001120:Arginine