Objectives: Asymmetrical dimethyl arginine (ADMA) inhibits nitric oxide synthase causing a decline in nitric oxide levels and so endothelial dysfunction. In our study, we analyzed the relationship between albuminuria and ADMA level in type-2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: This is a cross sectional study in which 55 type 2 diabetic patients followed up in diabetes outpatient clinic. Patients were divided into three groups according to albuminuria: normoalbuminuric (Group-1), microalbumiuric (Group-2) and macroalbuminuric (Group-3) patients. ADMA level was measured by ELISA method. Results: A total of 36 (65.45%) patients were female. The median age of patients were 59.9 years. There was no statistically significant difference between groups regarding age, duration of DM, gender, LDL cholesterol and body mass index. The median ADMA level was lower in Group-1 compared to Group-2 and Group-3. ADMA level was significantly correlated with albuminuria. Albuminuria was the only parameter related with ADMA in linear regression analysis. Conclusion: ADMA level is significantly increased even in microalbumiuric stage among patients with type 2 DM. This may show the increased risk of progressive kidney disease in these patients. Keywords: Albuminuria, asymmetrical dimethyl arginine, diabetes mellitus, renal disease
Corresponding Author: Aysegul Sakin