Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as a possible risk marker for ischemic stroke

Nishiyama, Yasuhiro; Ueda, Masayuki; Katsura, Ken-ichiro; Otsuka, Toshiaki; Abe, Arata; Nagayama, Hiroshi; Katayama, Yasuo

doi:10.1016/j.jns.2009.12.020

« Previous Next »Journal of the Neurological Sciences
Volume 290, Issue 1 , Pages 12-15, 15 March 2010

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) as a possible risk marker for ischemic stroke

Yasuhiro Nishiyama
- Divisions of Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
- Corresponding author. Divisions of Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8603, Japan. Tel.: +81 3 3822 2131x6496; fax: +81 3 3822 4865.
Masayuki Ueda
- Divisions of Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
Ken-ichiro Katsura
- Divisions of Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
Toshiaki Otsuka
- Department of Hygiene and Public Health, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
Arata Abe
- Divisions of Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
- Stroke Center, Shioda Hospital, Chiba, Japan
Hiroshi Nagayama
- Divisions of Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
Yasuo Katayama
- Divisions of Neurology, Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan

Received 15 September 2009; received in revised form 15 December 2009; accepted 18 December 2009. published online 11 January 2010.

Abstract

Background

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) affects vascular function by blocking nitric oxide synthesis. We examined the relationship of ADMA concentration to vascular risk factors in subjects who have undergone annual medical check-up.

Methods

ADMA concentration, lipid profile and vascular risk factors were assessed during an annual medical examination in 116 subjects (mean age 58.7years). Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to assess factors associated with ADMA concentration. ADMA concentration was also assessed in 50 age-matched patients with ischemic stroke.

Results

Mean serum ADMA concentration was significantly higher in the ischemic stroke patients than the medical check-up subjects (0.461±0.076 versus 0.433±0.056μmol/l; P=0.022). Univariate analysis showed that ADMA concentration in the medical check-up subjects was significantly associated with age, hypertension, dyslipidemia, fasting blood glucose, total and LDL cholesterol concentrations. Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that hypertension (β=0.25, P=0.008) and dyslipidemia (β=0.19, P =0.048) were significant independent determinants of ADMA concentration. ADMA concentration increased progressively with number of vascular risk factors, with a significant (P=0.001) difference between subjects with no risk factors and subjects with ≥2 risk factors.

Conclusions

Serum ADMA concentration was significantly associated with vascular risk factors in subjects undergoing routine medical check-up. ADMA concentration warrants further examination as a possible marker of future development of ischemic stroke.

Keywords: Dimethylarginine, Medical check-up, Ischemic stroke