Relationship of asymmetric dimethylarginine with flow-mediated dilatation in subjects with newly detected severe hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND

Little is know about the relationship between asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and percent flow-mediated dilatation (%FMD) in subjects with severe hypercholesterolemia (HH).

AIM: The aim of the present study was the evaluation of the relationship of ADMA to %FMD, as well as to lipid parameters and other markers of endothelial dysfunction in newly detected subjects with severe HH.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty asymptomatic patients with severe, newly detected HH and 100 controls were evaluated. The plasma level of ADMA was tested by ELISA and total homocysteine (tHcy) - through fluid chromatographic analysis. The %FMD was evaluated by the diameter of brachial artery with 7.5 MHz transducer of HP SONOS 5500.

RESULTS

Significant difference was found between patients and controls, (P<0.05) regarding lipid total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein, low-dencity lipoprotein, atherogenic indices) and non-lipid markers (ADMA, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1), as well as the endothelium dependent %FMD in contrast to flow independent vasodilation. (P>0.05) No significant difference was found between the groups with respect to tHcy, P-selectine and E-selectine. (P>0.05) A strong negative correlation was found between %FMD and ADMA. (r(xy) = -0.895; P<0.001), Apolipoprotein-B (r(xy )= -0.687; P<0.0001, tHcy (r(xy) = -0.560; P<0.001) and Apolipoprotein index -B/A1 (r(xy) = -0.518; P<0.001). The subsequent linear and multiple regression analysis selected ADMA as the most significant factor in relation to %FMD.

CONCLUSION

It is concluded that ADMA is the basic modulator of %FMD among all tested atherogenic risk biomarkers in in newly detected subjects with severe HH.