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01-07-2011 | Original Paper

Down syndrome patients with pulmonary hypertension have elevated plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine

Authors: Clifford L. Cua, Lynette K. Rogers, Louis G. Chicoine, Molly Augustine, Yi Jin, Patricia L. Nash, Leif D. Nelin

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 7/2011

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) patients have an increased risk of developing pulmonary hypertension (PH). Increased plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) may contribute to vascular dysfunction in adults with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. Our goal was to test the hypothesis that DS patients with PH have higher plasma levels of ADMA than DS patients without PH. DS patients with definitive PH (n = 6) and DS patients with no evidence of PH (n = 12) were studied. Plasma levels of arginine, ADMA, and nitrite/nitrate (NOx; stable metabolites of nitric oxide (NO)) were measured. Plasma arginine concentration was lower (p < 0.05) in PH patients (23 ± 11 μM) versus non-PH patients (46 ± 24 μM). Plasma ADMA concentration was higher (p < 0.005) in PH patients (18.0 ± 4.2 μM) versus non-PH patients (8.6 ± 5.9 μM). Plasma NOx was lower (p < 0.05) in PH patients (4.5 ± 1.7 μM) versus non-PH patients (8.5 ± 7.3 μM). These results are consistent with ADMA contributing to lower NO production in DS patients with PH and suggest that ADMA levels may be a potential biomarker for PH in DS patients.

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Title: Down syndrome patients with pulmonary hypertension have elevated plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine
Authors: Clifford L. Cua
Lynette K. Rogers
Louis G. Chicoine
Molly Augustine
Yi Jin
Patricia L. Nash
Leif D. Nelin
Publication date: 01-07-2011
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 7/2011
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-010-1361-x

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Down syndrome patients with pulmonary hypertension have elevated plasma levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine

Abstract

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