Objective: Atherosclerosis is very common in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). We aimed to investigate the relationship between asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) which is known as an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase and atherosclerosis among patients with a diagnosis of type 2 DM.
Material and Methods: A total of 85 patients with a diagnosis of type 2 DM (48.2% [n: 41] male) with a mean age of 55.73±8.78 years were enrolled in this trial. Plasma levels of ADMA, and laboratory parameters such as lipid profile and HbA1c were evaluated. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), a marker of atherosclerosis was measured. The patients were classified into two groups as cases with high and low ADMA levels.
Results: No statistically significant correlation was found between serum ADMA levels and total cholesterol (r=0.045; p=0.684), triglyceride (r=-0.067; p=0.544), LDL cholesterol (r=0.142; p=0.194) and HDL cholesterol (r=0.085; p=0.085). A statistically significant correlation was determined between serum ADMA level and HbA1c (r=0.376; p=0.001) and between serum ADMA level and carotid-intima media thickness (r=0.321; p=0.003).
Conclusions: Serum ADMA level is correlated with carotid IMT. Evaluation of ADMA levels in type 2 DM patients may be helpful in predicting atherosclerotic diseases such as coronary artery disease.
Key words: Asymmetric dimethylarginine, atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes mellitus
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