Influence of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine and Homocysteine on Nitric Oxide Synthase and Nitric Oxide in Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

Objective To observe the influence of asymmetric dimethylarginine and homocysteine on nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide in patients with coronary heart disease. Methods The levels of ADMA, Hcy, total cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and NO and activity of NOS were measured in serum of 60 cases with coronary heart disease and 30 healthy subjects. Results The levels of ADMA and Hcy of the patients were much higher than those of the controls, they were(1.30±0.58) μmol/L and (31.53±13.26) μmol/L in patients and(0.57±0.18) μmol/L and(20.98±6.39) μmol/L in controls respectively(P0.01). Compared with controls, the activity of NOS and levels of NO of patients were much lower, they were(5.06±1.82) μ/mg protein and(2.56±0.95) nmol/L in the patients and(7.03±1.37) μ/mg protein and(4.21±1.12) nmol/L in the controls. In the patients either the activity of NOS or the level of NO had significant negative relationship to the level of ADMA or Hcy respectively(P0.05) . Conclusion The patients with coronary heart disease had higher levels of ADMA and Hcy and lower level of NO and activity of NOS. It is supposed that the lower level of NO is associated with inhibition of NOS by the higher ADMA and Hcy respectively.