Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2894416 | Atherosclerosis | 2007 | 9 Pages |
ObjectiveTo investigate the association of the endogenous nitric oxide synthase inhibitor asymmetrical dimethylarginine (ADMA) and coronary endothelial function.Methods and resultsIn 289 patients with coronary artery disease we assessed coronary endothelium-dependent and -independent vascular responses to intracoronary infusion of acetylcholine, adenosine, and nitroglycerin, respectively, and determined plasma ADMA and l-arginine concentrations by HPLC. After 6 months of treatment with either cerivastatin, nifedipine, cerivastatin + nifedipine, or placebo, coronary vascular function testing as well as ADMA and l-arginine determinations were repeated. We observed no correlation of plasma ADMA or l-arginine concentration and coronary response to acetylcholine, adenosine or nitroglycerin baseline, and no correlation of changes of ADMA or l-arginine plasma concentration with changes in coronary function (all r and ρ < 0.3, all p > 0.05).ConclusionAt physiological plasma concentrations ADMA appears to have only little impact on coronary endothelial function.