ABSTRACT

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is known as a non-traditional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Considering the increased prevalence of hypervolemia and heart failure in patients with peritoneal dialysis (PD), we aimed to investigate the relationship of ADMA with other biochemical parameters, echocardiographic findings, and results of bioimpedance analysis, which is a method for the determination of body fluid distribution in detail.

The study was conducted on 21 patients with chronic PD. Bioimpedance was evaluated by Body Composition Monitor H02.201.1®. ADMA level was analyzed by an ELISA kit.

The mean ADMA level was 87.6±58.2 (18.54-247.34) μmol/L. The mean ADMA level in patients with hypertension was significantly higher than those with normal blood pressure (95.8±58.8 μmol/L and 41.0±27.9 μmol/L, respectively; p=0.045). In univariate analysis, the parameters associated with serum ADMA levels were uric acid (r=0.681, p=0.001), left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) (r=0.509, p=0.019), intracellular water (ICW) (r=0.606, p=0.004), extracellular water (r=0.471, p=0.031), dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) creatinine ratio (r=0.452, p=0.04), body surface area (r=0.52, p=0.016), total body water (r=0.581, p=0.006), and lean tissue mass (r=0.528, p=0.014). In multivariate analysis, only uric acid level, ICW, LVESD, and D/P creatinine were found to be significantly associated with ADMA.

Serum ADMA level may be a useful marker to detect cardiovascular risk in patients with PD. Serum uric acid and LVESD are important parameters related to ADMA levels in patients with PD. Bioimpedance spectroscopy findings support the association of ADMA with body fluid volume.

Keywords: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), bioimpedance analysis, dialysis, cardiovascular disease, peritoneal dialysis, patients with uremia