부산대학교 도서관

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent chemical mediator involved in many functions. In vivo production of NO is thought to be regulated by endogenous analogues of L-arginine: asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA). AIM: To examine the effect of renal function and dialysis on the serum concentrations of ADMA and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA). METHODS: Blood samples were obtained from nine healthy subjects, patients with renal failure before (n = 17) and after haemodialysis (n = 9), nine patients on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD), and 13 patients with chronic renal failure on conservative treatment. Serum samples were extracted using a solid phase cation exchange column and the extracts were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). RESULTS: Serum concentrations of ADMA in patients with renal failure (mean, 1.04 μmol/litre; SD, 0.17) were significantly higher than those of controls (mean, 0.61 μmol/litre; SD, 0.13). Haemodialysis significantly decreased the serum concentration by 36% (before dialysis: mean 0.99 (SD, 0.25) μmol/litre; after dialysis: mean, 0.63 (SD, 0.15) μmol/litre). Serum SDMA concentrations were higher in patients with renal failure, and haemodialysis decreased the concentration by 60%. There was no difference in serum arginine concentrations between the groups. CONCLUSION: Serum concentrations of ADMA are increased in renal failure and haemodialysis reduces the concentration.