The relationship between L-arginine/ADMA ratio and coronary collateral development in patients with low glomerular filtration rate

Abstract

BACKGROUND: It is yet to be established which factors are responsible for differences among
patients with the same degree of coronary artery disease in terms of coronary collateral development
(CCD).

METHODS: Patients who had a greater than or equal to 95% stenosis in at least one epicardial
coronary artery were classified into two groups according to their glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
level. Afterwards, the degree of CCD was evaluated according to their plasma concentration of
asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and GFR levels.
RESULTS: Rentrop grade 2–3 was found more frequently in patients with GFR > 60 mL/min
than in patients with GFR < 60 mL/min (68.6% vs 41.4%, p = 0.032). Then we divided
patients into four groups according to their GFR levels and Rentrop grades; whereas we did
not find any significant difference for L-arginine or ADMA levels (respectively p = 0.629 and
p = 0.076), we did find a statistically significant difference between groups for L-arginine/
/ADMA ratio (p = 0.003) and this statistically significant difference was evident between
patients with GFR < 60 mL/min and Rentrop 0–1 and patients with GFR > 60 mL/min and
Rentrop 2–3 (1.23 vs 1.69, p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that
L-arginine/ADMA ratio was the only variable which had a significant effect on CCD (OR = 1.016;
95% CI 1.001–1.031, Wald = 4.565; p = 0.033).
CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that CCD was poor in patients with GFR < 60 mL/min,
presumably because of the adverse effect of decreased L-arginine/ADMA ratio on endothelial
cells and angiogenesis. (Cardiol J 2012; 19, 1: 29–35)