The role of asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginine in acute deep vein thrombosis.

BACKGROUND

In this study, we aimed to determine the importance of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethyl arginine (SDMA), and l-arginine levels which are influenced by the endothelial dysfunction in acute deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and compare their pretreatment and post-treatment levels.

METHODS

A total of 34 cases (19 men and 15 women, age range 42 ± 14 years) diagnosed with acute DVT and 34 control subjects (22 men and 12 women, age range 45 ± 11 years) without any vascular disorders were included in the study. The patients were administered low-molecular-weight heparin subcutaneously. Blood samples were obtained to measure ADMA, SDMA, and arginine levels before treatment and during the treatment (on 10th day). ADMA, SDMA, and l-arginine levels were measured using high performance liquid chromatography method.

RESULTS

The ADMA and SDMA levels were significantly higher in acute DVT patients when compared with the controls (P = 0.001). Post-treatment decrease of ADMA and SDMA levels when compared with the pretreatment levels were found as statistically significant (P = 0.001). Increase in l-arginine levels were not found significant when compared with the control group (P = 0.12) or post-treatment levels (P = 0.16).

CONCLUSIONS

We concluded that ADMA and SDMA levels can be used as parameters in clinical follow-up for determining the efficacy of treatment in acute DVT patients, and further studies are needed to further clarify the subject.