Description
The vascular endothelium plays a central role in the regulation of vascular structure and function, mainly due to the formation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO). NO is formed by the enzyme NO synthetase (NOS) from the amino acid precursor L-arginine. NOS activity can be downregulated by ADMA, an endogenous inhibitor of NOS. Elevated ADMA levels in plasma have been found in clinical studies including patients with hypercholeste-rolemia, hypertension, chronic heart failure, chronic renal failure and other internal disorders. ADMA may have diagnostic relevance as a novel cardiovascular risk marker