Description
Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of Nitric oxide (NO) synthesis.
Nitric oxide (NO) is one of the major endothelium-derived vasoactive mediators and is involved in the modulation of the blood flow and the blood pressure. Even small changes of the ADMA concentration alter vascular NO production, vascular tone, and systemic vascular resistance.
Elevated ADMA concentrations can be found in patients with diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension, peripheral arterial disease, chronic renal failure, preeclampsia or erectile dysfunction.
ADMA concentrations in the blood are found in many diseases associated with endothelial dysfunction. ADMA was also found to predict cardiovascular risk independently of other variables. ADMA is shown to be a novel cardiovascular risk factor.
