Coronary artery disease
-
Coronary artery disease · Nov 2007
Asymmetric dimethylarginine plasma concentrations and L-arginine/asymmetric dimethylarginine ratio in patients with slow coronary flow.
Elevated levels of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is considered to be a marker of endothelial dysfunction and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Recent reports have implicated endothelial dysfunction as an underlying pathophysiological mechanism of slow coronary flow (SCF) phenomenon. Accordingly, we investigated plasma L-arginine, ADMA concentrations and L-arginine/ADMA ratio in patients with SCF in comparison with participants having normal coronary flow. ⋯ Our findings provide evidence to support the hypothesis that endothelial dysfunction may be an important factor in the pathogenesis of SCF.