Increased Serum Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Levels in Primary Dysmenorrhea

Abstract

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea is a common disorder among young women, and uterine ischemia plays an important role in pelvic pain. Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is accepted as a strong marker of endothelial dysfunction. Objective: To investigate the role of ADMA in primary dysmenorrhea. Methods: Thirty-three patients with primary dysmenorrhea and 29 healthy controls were evaluated in a hospital outpatient clinic-based study. Secondary causes of dysmenorrhea had been ruled out in each patient. LDL cholesterol, triglycerides measured and body mass index were also calculated. Blood samples for determination of ADMA concentration were drawn on the 3rd day of menses in each woman. Groups were compared for statistically significant difference by Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Groups did not differ in age or hormone levels. ADMA level was higher in women with dysmenorrhea compared to healthy controls (Mann-Whitney U test, Z = –2.24, p = 0.025). ADMA levels showed positive correlation with age and erythrocyte sedimentation rate in the first group (Spearman’s rho = 0.360, p = 0.040, and r = 0.379, p = 0.029, respectively). Although erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein (CRP) were positively correlated, no significant correlations were found between high-sensitivity CRP and ADMA level in the first group (Spearman’s rho = 0.048, p = 0.749). Conclusion: ADMA concentrations are elevated in primary dysmenorrhea compared to healthy controls. This suggests that endothelial dysfunction plays a role in primary dysmenorrhea.

Toxic Dimethylarginines: Asymmetric Dimethylarginine (ADMA) and Symmetric Dimethylarginine (SDMA)

“…Here, we summarize studies previously reviewed [25,42,43,44,45,46] and highlight new data documenting associations between elevated ADMA levels and clinical conditions in specific patient populations. As shown in Table 1, elevated circulating ADMA concentrations have been described in a variety of diseases across different age and sex groups [3,42,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67,68,69,70,71,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90]. Differences in ADMA concentrations between sexes are small [33], whereas difference between different age groups do exist.…”

“…Many diseases affect both women and men alike; however, some diseases occurring at a higher frequency in women (e.g., systemic lupus erythematous) or affecting only women (e.g., preeclampsia [52], polycystic ovary syndrome [67], and primary dysmenorrhea [73]) have been linked with elevated ADMA concentrations. Additionally, some pediatric diseases such as prematurity [64], congenital urea cycle enzyme defects [69], and transient tachypnea in newborns [88] are associated with elevated plasma ADMA levels.…”

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug modulates oxidative stress and calcium ion levels in the neutrophils of patients with primary dysmenorrhea

“…In another study, the levels of MDA and interleukin-6 were elevated in patients with primary dysmenorrhea (Yeh et al, 2004). In a study by Akdemir et al (2010), levels of serum nitric oxide and asymmetric dimethylarginine (as a marker of endothelial dysfunction and nitrogen radicals) were observed to be significantly higher in patients with primary dysmenorrhea than in the control group. Taken together, these results indicated reduced antioxidant activity in primary dysmenorrhea.…”

Study on the Absorbed Fingerprint-Efficacy of Yuanhu Zhitong Tablet Based on Chemical Analysis, Vasorelaxation Evaluation and Data Mining

“…Endothelial dysfunction was a very important reason for headache (chronic migraine) [28] and dysmenorrheal [29]. At present, many data [30]–[32] suggested that chronic migraine and cardiovascular disease had the same pathophysiological mechanisms as follows: abnormal control of systemic vascular tone, alterations in systemic arterial structure and function and impaired ability to repair systemic endothelial injury.…”