Arginine derivatives in atrial fibrillation progression phenotypes

ABSTRACT: Arginine, homoarginine (hArg), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) affect nitric oxide metabolism and altered concentrations are associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We analyzed these metabolites using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) (n = 241) with a focus on heart rhythm at blood withdrawal, AF progression phenotypes, and successful sinus rhythm (SR) restoration (n = 22). AF progression phenotypes were defined as paroxysmal AF with/without low voltage areas (LVA) and persistent AF with/without LVA. While arginine, ADMA, and hArg were within reference limits for healthy controls, SDMA was higher in the AF cohort (0.57 ± 0.12 vs. 0.53 μmol/L (97.5th percentile in reference cohort)). SR restoration in AF patients resulted in normalization of SDMA concentrations (0.465 ± 0.082 vs. 0.570 ± 0.134 μmol/L at baseline, p < 0.001). Patients with AF at the time of blood sampling had significantly lower hArg (1.65 ± 0.51 vs. 1.85 ± 0.60 μmol/L, p = 0.006) and higher ADMA concentrations (0.526 ± 0.08 vs. 0.477 ± 0.08 μmol/L, p < 0.001) compared with AF patients in SR. hArg concentrations were lower in patients with advanced AF progression phenotypes (persistent AF with LVA (p = 0.046)) independent of heart rhythm at blood sampling. Summarizing, arginine metabolism imbalance is associated with AF in general and AF progression and may contribute to associated risk. KEY MESSAGES: • Heart rhythm at blood withdrawal affects ADMA and hArg level in AF patients. • SDMA is higher in AF patients. • SDMA levels normalize after sinus rhythm restoration. • hArg levels decrease in advanced AF progression phenotypes. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00109-020-01932-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.