Levels of arginine and its products in dialysis patients

V. Ugurcu, H. Vatansev, A. Unlu, A. Sivrikaya, F. Akyurek, B. Ozturk, A. Kiyici, S.S. Erdem

Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical School, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey. veliugurcu@yahoo.com

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• Cardiology

OBJECTIVES: Chronic renal failure is among significant public health problems all over the world. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment approaches, cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is still high in chronic renal failure patients on dialysis. The aim this study is to investigate the importance of arginine, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with dialysis treatment program.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: 53 patients with chronic renal failure receiving hemodialysis treatment and 34 healthy persons were participated to the study. Arginine and ADMA levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence detector. NO levels were assessed by a colorimetric method. Albumin, urea, creatinine levels was performed using the spectrophotometric method.

RESULTS: Arginine levels were similar in dialysis patients when compared to the control group. Similarly NO levels did not show any difference between patient group and the control group. ADMA levels were found to be significantly high in dialysis patients compared to the control group (p < 0.005). Arginine/ADMA ratio was lower in the patient group compared to the control group (p < 0.001). Dialysis patients who have diagnosed coronary artery disease had low levels of albumin and creatinine. Arginine levels, ADMA levels and NO levels did not show any difference in the patients with coronary artery disease or not (p > 0.05). Arginine levels were significantly higher in men compared to women. Pearson correlation analysis showed that there was a correlation between NO and arginine levels. Arginine and Arginine/ADMA showed a positive correlation while ADMA and arginine/ADMA levels showed a negative correlation.

CONCLUSIONS: As a result, our data showed that ADMA clearance was impaired in hemodialysis patients. Increase in ADMA levels may play a role in atherosclerosis dependent morbidity and mortality.

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