Significance of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) concentrations during coronary circulation in patients with vasospastic angina.

The basal activity of nitric oxide (NO) is reduced in spastic arteries of patients with vasospastic angina (VSA). Elevated concentrations of ADMA are associated with reduced NO production and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. The aim of this study was to elucidate the role of ADMA and its relationship to NO end-products (NOx; nitrate + nitrite) during coronary circulation in patients with VSA. The plasma ADMA and NOx concentrations during coronary circulation were evaluated in 16 VSA and 16 control patients. Blood samples were obtained from the coronary sinus (V) and the ostium of the left coronary artery (A), and the (V-A) differences of ADMA and NOx were determined. The coronary sinus plasma ADMA concentration in patients with VSA was higher than that in the control. The coronary sinus - arterial (V-A) difference of NOx was negative in the VSA group and approximately zero in the control group (VSA group =-1.4 micromol/L, control group =-0.1 micromol/L, p=0.0005). Furthermore, in the VSA patients, there was a negative correlation between the (V-A) difference of NOx and the basal coronary artery tone at the site of spasm (r=-0.60, p=0.015). A significant negative correlation between the (V-A) differences of NOx and ADMA was observed in patients with VSA (r=-0.52, p<0.05), but not in those of the control. Higher ADMA concentrations might cause the reduced formation of NO that underlies the pathophysiology of coronary vasospasm.