Increased production of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in ankylosing spondylitis: Association with other clinical and laboratory parameters

Objective: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been associated with atherosclerosis, vascular diseases and, recently, also with arthritis including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Methods: Serum ADMA, arginine and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels were assessed by liquid chromatography in 61 AS and 26 osteoarthritis (OA) patients with no known cardiovascular disease. Results: Serum ADMA levels were significantly increased in AS compared to OA patients (0.95 +/- 0.17 mu M versus 0.70 +/- 0.25 mu M; p < 0.001). There were no differences in serum arginine and SDMA levels. Serum ADMA levels also positively correlated with age (R = 0.258; p = 0.043), body mass index (R = 0.368; p = 0.003), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (R = 0.329; p = 0.009) and ADMA levels negative correlated with chest expansion (R = -0.251; p = 0.04). No correlations were found between ADMA levels and disease duration, pain intensity, BASDAI, BASFI, BASMI, quality of life, CRP, HLA-B27 positivity, endothelial dysfunction or carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusion: ADMA may serve as a marker of systemic inflammation and may reflect functional immobility in AS. Further studies are needed to assess the possible role of ADMA in AS and AS-related vascular disease. (C) 2010 Societe francaise de rhumatologie. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.,