title: Investigation of Asymmetric and Symmetric Dimethylarginine Levels after Iloprost Treatment in Patients with Buerger's Disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the levels of acetyl-dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), and the l-arginine/ADMA ratio before and after iloprost treatment in patients with Buerger's disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between January 2011 and December 2015, data from 44 patients (36 males, 8 females, mean age 48.7 ± 18.1 years) with the diagnosis of Fontaine Stage III-IV Buerger's disease were included. Iloprost infusion was administered intravenously through the forearm veins for 7 days at a dose of 0.5-1.5 ng/kg/min over 16 h. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment for measurement of ADMA, SDMA, and l-arginine. ADMA, SDMA, l-arginine levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After iloprost treatment, ADMA and SDMA levels significantly decreased (p = .001). The increase in the l-arginine levels was not significant (p = .16). However, the l-arginine/ADMA ratio increased significantly (p = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iloprost treatment decreases ADMA and SDMA, which are associated with endothelial dysfunctions in patients with Buerger's disease. Of note, the still higher than normal range of SDMA levels after iloprost treatment suggests that treatment should continue until SDMA levels are within the normal range in this patient population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Educational and Research Hospital, Elazig, Turkey. Electronic address: ssenol2012@gmail.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Senol
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Educational and Research Hospital, Elazig, Turkey.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Senol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013919:Thromboangiitis Obliterans / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C024917:symmetric dimethylarginine; C018524:N,N-dimethylarginine; D001120:Arginine; D016285:Iloprost
keywords: Asymmetric dimethylarginine; Buerger's disease; Iloprost; Symmetric dimethylarginine; l-Arginine