Early-pregnancy asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels in women prone to develop recurrent hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate early-pregnancy levels of ADMA (asymmetric dimethylarginine) in recurrent hypertensive pregnancy.

STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective observational study, blood samples from 35 normotensive women with a previous hypertensive pregnancy were obtained preconceptionally and at 12, 16 and 20weeks in their next pregnancy. We assessed ADMA, symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), l-arginine and l-citrulline. We analyzed differences in longitudinal patterns between normotensive (NT, n=18) and recurrent hypertensive (HT, n=17) pregnancies by linear mixed models, with a sub-analysis for preeclampsia (PE, n=6).

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: ADMA, SDMA, l-arginine and l-citrulline.

RESULTS: Pre-pregnant SDMA and l-citrulline were lower in HT. At 12weeks, ADMA and ADMA/SDMA ratio correlated inversely with PAPP-A and β-hCG, respectively. In both groups, ADMA-related compounds changed inconsistently with advancing (mid-trimester) pregnancy, although in HT, l-arginine tended to decrease between 16 and 20weeks, a decline consistent in PE.

CONCLUSION: These data support a modest role for ADMA and related metabolites in the pathogenesis of hypertensive pregnancy.