Subarachnoid haemorrhage induces a long-lasting increase of asymmetric dimethylarginine, ADMA, in serum

• Background and Purpose: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), inhibiting nitric oxide (NO) production and thus induces vasoconstriction and endothelial dysfunction. ADMA might therefore be involved in the cerebral vasospasm and cardiovascular complications observed after subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether ADMA was increased in subjects during the acute phase (first week) and non-acute phase (three months later) after SAH.Methods: Prospective clinical study of 20 subjects with SAH. ADMA in serum (ADMA/s) at admission was compared to sex and age matched controls. ADMA/s and ADMA in cerebrospinal fluid (ADMA/csf, from subjects with ventriculostomy) were determined by HPLC-based separation and detection.Results: There was no significant difference in ADMA/s the day after SAH (day 2) between SAH subjects and controls (0.22±0.10 vs. 0.25±0.12 µmol/L). ADMA/s increased by 68% during the first week after SAH (day 2; 0.22±0.10 vs. day 7; 0.37±0.34 µmol/L, p<0.05) and remained elevated at a three-month follow-up (0.36±0.10 µmol/L). ADMA/csf was significantly lower than ADMA/s throughout the study period.Conclusion; ADMA/s in SAH subjects increased significantly during the first week after SAH and remained elevated at a three-month follow-up. This might indicate that reduction of the available NO is involved in long-term effects after SAH.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Anestesi och intensivvård (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Anesthesiology and Intensive Care (hsv//eng)

Keyword

asymmetric dimethylarginine

Anaesthetics and intensive care

Anestesiologi och intensivvård

anestesiologi

Anaesthesiology

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)