Background: Intestinal microvessels of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) show microvascular endothelial dysfunction. It may contribute to reduced perfusion, poor ulcer healing, and sustained chronic inflammation. The aim of the study was to assess endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress markers in patients with IBD.
Methods: Serum levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA), arginine, and 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha) were measured in 31 consecutive patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 32 with Crohn's disease (CD). Apparently healthy subjects served as age- and sex-matched controls. Associations between these markers and the disease activity and laboratory variables were evaluated.
Results: ADMA, SDMA, and 8-iso-PGF2alpha levels were increased in the IBD group as compared to the control group and higher in patients with CD than UC (P < 0.05 for all comparisons). Arginine levels were similar in all the groups. In the CD and UC groups ADMA and SDMA showed positive correlation with 8-iso-PGF2alpha (r from 0.47-0.67; P < 0.01 for all comparisons). ADMA and SDMA correlated positively with the CD activity (r = 0.4, P = 0.025; r = 0.4, P = 0.024, respectively) and the 8-iso-PGF2alpha level correlated positively with the UC activity (r = 0.4, P = 0.026).
Conclusions: This is the first study to show that in patients with IBD there is enhanced ADMA generation that might be associated with oxidative stress, and these effects are more pronounced in the CD group.