The biological effect of pharmacological treatment on dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH-1) and cationic amino acid transporter-1 (CAT-1) expression in patients with acute congestive heart failure

► In patients with acute heart failure there is an important decline in the counter regulatory effects of endogenous vasodilators. ► Reduction of renal excretion of ADMA/SDMA is due to acute renal impairment function in patients with acute heart failure. ► Acute congestive heart failure leads to a under-expression of DDAH-1 enzyme determining a lack of ADMA metabolism with consequent increase in its plasma concentration.