Diabetic retinopathy is associated with elevated serum asymmetric and symmetric dimethylarginines
- Sotoodeh Abhary, MBBS1,
- Nicholas Kasmeridis, MBBS2,
- Kathryn P Burdon, PhD1,
- Abraham Kuot, BMedSc1,
- Malcolm J Whiting, PhD3,
- Wai Ping Yu, BSc4,
- Nikolai Petrovsky, FRACP2 and
- Jamie E Craig, FRANZCO (jamie.craig{at}flinders.edu.au)1
- 1Department of Ophthalmology, Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, AUSTRALIA
- 2Department of Endocrinology, Flinders Medical Centre and Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, AUSTRALIA
- 3Chemical Pathology Laboratory, SA Pathology, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, AUSTRALIA
- 4Department of Medical Biochemistry, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, AUSTRALIA
Abstract
Objective: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and L-arginine directly influence nitric oxide production. Our objective was to test whether serum ADMA, SDMA or L-arginine levels correlate with diabetic retinopathy (DR) subtype or severity.
Methods: 162 subjects with type 1 diabetes and 343 with type 2 diabetes, of which 329 subjects had no DR, 27 non-proliferative DR (NPDR), 101 proliferative DR (PDR) and 107 clinically significant macular edema (CSME) were recruited. Blinding DR was defined as severe NPDR, PDR or CSME. Serum ADMA, SDMA and L-arginine concentration was determined by mass spectroscopy.
Results: In multivariate analysis, blinding DR, PDR and nephropathy were associated with significantly increased serum levels of ADMA(p<0.001), SDMA(p<0.001) and L-arginine(p=0.001). Elevated ADMA(p<0.001) and SDMA(p<0.001) were also significantly associated with CSME.
Conclusion: Severe forms of DR are associated with elevated serum ADMA, SDMA and L-arginine. Further investigation is required to determine whether these findings are of clinical relevance.
Footnotes
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- Received May 4, 2009.
- Accepted July 29, 2009.
- Copyright © American Diabetes Association
