Asymmetric (ADMA) and Symmetric (SDMA) Dimethylarginines in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Clinical Approach

Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Jul 26;20(15):3668. doi: 10.3390/ijms20153668.

Abstract

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and its enantiomer, Symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), are naturally occurring amino acids that were first isolated and characterized in human urine in 1970. ADMA is the most potent endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), with higher levels in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). ADMA has shown to be a significant predictor of cardiovascular outcome and mortality among dialysis patients. On the other hand, although initially SDMA was thought to be an innocuous molecule, we now know that it is an outstanding marker of renal function both in human and in animal models, with ESRD patients on dialysis showing the highest SDMA levels. Today, we know that ADMA and SDMA are not only uremic toxins but also independent risk markers for mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD). In this review, we summarize the role of both ADMA and SDMA in chronic kidney disease along with other cardiovascular risk factors.

Keywords: ADMA; SDMA; asymmetric dimethylarginine; cardiovascular; chronic kidney disease; end-stage renal disease; methylarginines; symmetric dimethylarginine; uremia.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Arginine / metabolism
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / drug effects
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Prognosis
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / etiology*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / metabolism*
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / mortality
  • Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / therapy

Substances

  • symmetric dimethylarginine
  • N,N-dimethylarginine
  • Arginine