Urinary excretion of NG-dimethylarginines in multiple sclerosis patients: preliminary observations.

Abstract

The concentrations of NG,N'G-dimethylarginine [Me2(sym)Arg] and NG,NG-dimethylarginine [Me2(asym)Arg] were determined in the urine samples from multiple sclerosis (MS) and control subjects, using a highly sensitive HPLC post-column o-phthaldialdehyde derivatization method. The presence of approximately equal amounts of both dimethylarginine isomers, of Arg concentration nearly half of Me2Arg, and of the undetectable amount of NG-monomethylarginine were the characteristic urinary excretion pattern in all human samples studied. The urinary excretion of Me2(asym)Arg and Me2(sym)Arg from MS (n = 9) and control (n = 7) were analyzed: the mean values from the samples were approximately 20% (for all MS) and 33% (for chronic-progressive MS) lower than those from the control for both dimethylarginine-derivatives when compared to the respective compounds. Although there were contrasting trends between controls and MS patients in the relationship of urinary NG-dimethylarginines and myelin basic protein like material (MBPLM), the correlations were not significant. Differences in the ratios of the concentrations of the two dimethyl derivatives, Me2(sym)Arg/Me2(asym)Arg, were not significantly different between MS and control groups. These findings warrant further investigation of possible links between urinary excretion of NG-dimethylarginine and MBPLM in MS. The possible significance of myelin metabolism in relation to urinary NG-dimethylarginines in MS is discussed.

• Authors: N Rawal, Y J Lee, J N Whitaker, J O Park, W K Paik, S Kim
• Journal: Journal of the neurological sciences (J Neurol Sci) Vol. 129 Issue 2 Pg. 186-91 (Apr 1995) ISSN: 0022-510X [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 7608735 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• symmetric dimethylarginine
• N,N-dimethylarginine
• Arginine

Topics

• Arginine (analogs & derivatives, urine)
• Case-Control Studies
• Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid
• Humans
• Multiple Sclerosis (urine)
• Reference Values
• Sensitivity and Specificity